1MDB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah accused key prosecution witness Jasmine Loo of giving self-serving testimony.
However, the 1MDB former general counsel, who was on the run for several years before returning to Malaysia last year, denied the allegation and reiterated she was merely giving oral evidence on what transpired at the troubled sovereign wealth fund.
The fiery exchange took place during today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB trial against former finance minister Najib.
During proceedings at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Shafee was cross-examining Loo over her testimony regarding 1MDB in 2010 entering into a so-called Murabaha financing agreement which resulted in the fund losing nearly US$1 billion (RM4.73 billion) in funds.
Loo then testified that from her recollection, the necessary documentation on this deal was given by 1MDB-linked fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) to Najib for the then premier’s signature.
Shafee then contended that Loo’s testimony is hearsay as her testimony stated that this was what she was told by businessperson Low.
Shafee: Your claim is self-serving, as you have been under severe investigation, and this is self-serving to save yourself, Jho Low, and others.
Loo: I disagree. I am telling the court what transpired.
Pending lawsuit
The lawyer then reminded the witness that 1MDB has a pending lawsuit against her over alleged involvement in wrongful transfers of the fund’s monies, to which she confirmed being sued.
When Shafee asked whether she has filed her statement of defence against 1MDB’s civil action, she replied that she would be doing so in due course, adding that she would be consulting her legal team over the fund’s suit against her at a separate Kuala Lumpur High Court.
However, she agreed in hindsight with Shafee’s contention that 1MDB was snagged into a “total con job” involving a multi-billion joint venture with Petrosaudi International Limited.
Previously, Loo testified that Low threatened to make her life a living hell if she left Thailand and returned to Malaysia last year, after being on the run since 2018.
She also previously gave oral evidence denying that she made a deal with Malaysian prosecutors to testify against Najib.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow morning.
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
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