Najib opened two accounts for Saudi donations, says ex-AmBank MD

NAJIB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak told AmBank that he wanted to open two accounts to receive millions in donations from Saudi Arabia, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

Former AmBank group managing director Cheah Tek Kuang said that Najib told him this during a meeting at the former premier's residence sometime in the middle of 2011.

Cheah said this during cross-examination by defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh on the 39th day of Najib's SRC International trial.

Harvinderjit: Now, when you arrived at the house (Najib's residence), you were introduced to Najib for the first time by (fugitive businessperson) Low Taek Jho as 'Cheah from AmBank'. This was the first meeting face to face, where then (you) went to a room where only you and Najib sat down.

Cheah: Yes.

Harvinderjit: Low was not there (in the room)?

Cheah: Yes.

Harvinderjit: Najib told you (he want to open an account with AmBank) because he wants to receive donations?

Cheah: Uh-huh.

Harvinderjit: This account was to facilitate the donations?

Cheah: Uh-huh.

Cheah (photo) also said he told Najib that as a politically exposed person, the latter should follow all rules and regulations.

The witness added that Najib's intention of opening the two accounts – one current and one savings – was also made known to Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the Bank Negara governor at the time.

This information was relayed when Cheah went to see Zeti several days after his meeting with Najib. 

Three more accounts

Cheah, along with his successor Ashok Ramamurthy, met Zeti again sometime between 2013 and 2014. 

The second meeting was to discuss the three additional accounts Najib opened with AmBank that year.

Asked if he was kept updated by AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu on Najib's new accounts, Cheah said: "No, I only knew much later."  

"Not when they did it (opened the accounts), but much later. I was surprised the three accounts were opened," he added.

Cheah did not state why he was surprised, however.

He told the court that he did not want to meet Zeti about Najib's accounts as he was no longer the AmBank group managing director, but went along with Ashok anyway.

According to Cheah, Zeti said that she was aware of the matter. - Mkini