Loo denies making deal with MACC, prosecutors to testify against Najib

 

1MDB TRIAL | The former general counsel of 1MDB, Jasmine Loo, denied allegations that she struck a deal with MACC and prosecutors to testify against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

During today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB corruption trial against former finance minister Najib, former fugitive Loo (above) defended herself against cross-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Shafee was grilling the prosecution witness over why her testimony seemed to target Najib while making herself look more innocent.

Loo, 50, returned to Malaysia last year after being overseas for many years, following her leaving the country for Thailand in early 2018.

During previous proceedings, Loo testified that 1MDB-linked fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) threatened to make her life a living hell if she returned to Malaysia.

Shafee: You seemed to not only defending yourself but launching ‘missiles’ on my client. Have you made a deal with MACC?

Loo: No.

Shafee: With the prosecution?

Loo: No.

Najib’s charges

The witness also denied taking the witness stand against Najib, following negotiations with Malaysian authorities for the withdrawal of two pending criminal charges against her.

Shafee was referring to Loo being charged in absentia in 2018 in relation to the US$6.5 billion 1MDB bond deal involving United States-based investment bank Goldman Sachs International and its Asian arm.

The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah resumes on April 1.

Najib is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB.

For the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP is alleged to have committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering counts, the former finance minister is purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013. - Mkini