Najib never tried to disassociate self from Jho Low: Witness

1MDB TRIAL | Then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak never tried to disassociate himself from 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho, testified former 1MDB CEO Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman.

During this today's RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial against Najib, 10th prosecution witness Hazem told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the accused and Low (also known as Jho Low) were “very, very close” while interacting at the then premier’s house at Langgak Duta on No 28, 2013.

Replying to questions during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, Hazem said that “Jho Low was the man of the PM”.

During previous proceeding before trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Sept 20 last year, the witness testified that he saw Low at Najib’s house during the 2013 meeting of top 1MDB officials and board members at the former premier's residence to strategise over KPMG's audit of the company.

Sri Ram: During the meeting at the PM’s house, did the accused do anything to disassociate himself from Jho Low?

Hazem: No.

The witness testified that Najib has never instructed the then 1MDB CEO to not follow any instruction from Low in relation to the management and financial matters of the sovereign wealth fund.

Hazem also denied having received a single sen in relation to irregular payments made out of 1MDB.

Sri Ram: Did you financially benefit from the transactions?

Hazem: No.

The witness also denied ever acting in conspiracy with Low and certain other 1MDB personnel in transferring money out of the sovereign wealth fund, and testified he never received any money from Low.

The defence team has always contended then that Hazem was in cahoots with Low and several other then 1MDB officials in the suspicious transfers of funds out of the sovereign wealth fund.

The former prime minister’s legal team also contended that the accused had no knowledge of any wrongdoing taking place at 1MDB.

Najib is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion of 1MDB’s funds.

He was also the finance minister and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers. 1MDB is fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

Najib's personal account

Hazem also testified that RM45 million from a Deutsche Bank loan to 1MDB for buying back of Aabar options ended up in Najib’s personal account.

In reply to Sri Ram, the witness attested that RM45 million of the Deutsche Bank loan of US$975 million on Sept 1, 2014, went through a circuitous route involving Aabar Investments PJS Ltd’s account at UBS AG in Singapore, to Vista Equity International Partners Ltd’s account in Barbados, then to Najib’s Amprivate Banking account ending with 880 at AmIslamic Bank Bhd, Malaysia.

At the end of proceedings, Hazem was released from the witness stand.

The trial before Sequerah is expected to resume tomorrow morning. - Mkini