MACC didn't ask Najib on ordering US$700m transfer to Jho Low, court hears

1MDB TRIAL | An MACC investigating officer has testified that she did not ask Najib Abdul Razak whether he instructed 1MDB’s top management to transfer US$700 million to an offshore entity linked to fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

Nur Aida Arifin was replying to defence counsel Azrai Wan Azwan Aiman during cross-examination in today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against the former prime minister at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

In past proceedings, prosecution witnesses such as former 1MDB chairperson Mohd Bakke Salleh testified that he was uncomfortable with confronting Najib, who was then chairperson of the fund’s board of advisers, over suspicion that the accused was involved in the diversion of US$700 million to Good Star Limited.

The prosecution contended that the US$700 million was part of the US$1 billion earmarked for a joint venture between 1MDB and Petrosaudi International Limited.

Azwan was grilling Aida on why she only investigated former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi over the transfer but did not directly ask Najib.

Azwan: Did you ask Najib (during MACC investigation on whether he gave the directive to Shahrol)?

Aida: No.

Azwan: Don’t you think you should have asked Najib? Don’t you think it was important to ask Najib?

Aida: No.

However, the MACC investigator reiterated her stance based on her investigation that Shahrol took directions on 1MDB transactions from Low, whose actions and behaviours indicated assent from Najib.

The prosecution’s 39th witness disagreed with Azwan’s contention that Shahrol was a co-conspirator with Low, whom the defence team claimed influenced 1MDB without the knowledge and consent of Najib.

Ex-1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi

The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today.

Charges

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, Najib is purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

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Najib was chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers. - Mkini