Defence to zoom in on Shahrol's text messages with Najib

NAJIB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak's defence team will show the court transcripts of his text messages with former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.

According to lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the document will show that Shahrol had access to the former prime minister.

"He was on a texting basis with Najib. Every CEO of MOF Inc (Minister of Finance Incorporated), the big, big companies, all were on text mode (with Najib).

"What nonsense is he saying (by suggesting) that he cannot see him (Najib), that only Jho Low knows Najib.

"My client will produce the messages they had been sending each other," Shafee told Malaysiakini after the hearing adjourned this evening.

During cross-examination today, the lawyer tried to establish that Shahrol took Low's instructions as Najib's, without ever verifying with the then prime minister.

At one point, Shahrol (photo) testified that he had no access to Najib between 2009 and 2013 during his time as the 1MDB CEO.

In view of this, he took Low's instructions to be Najib's instructions. Shahrol said he was confident of this because Najib never contradicted Low.

This included an instruction to restrict the sharing of information about 1MDB to third parties in 2010, which Low purportedly told Shahrol came from Najib.

Shafee: Now, you were at one stage, in fact quite earlier on, you were on messaging mode with PM. Even now, your number is on his phone. Isn't that correct?

Shahrol: I messaged him maybe once a year.

Shafee: To wish him Hari Raya?

Shahrol: (To wish him ) Happy Birthday.

Shafee: Ahaa...

Shahrol: And during the election... During 1MDB, I don't recall sending significant messages to him. Maybe there were one or two.

Shafee: Do you think we would be able to retrieve the messages?

Shahrol: Please do. They're completely innocent. - Mkini