1MDB: Najib as premier hindered MACC probe, officer says

 

1MDB TRIAL | An MACC investigating officer testified that Najib Abdul Razak as then prime minister took multiple steps to hinder MACC’s investigation into the 1MDB affair.

However, before the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, Nur Aida Arifin conceded that there is no direct evidence of these alleged steps, among them regarding then attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali “NFA” (no further action) over the investigation against the former premier.

The 49th prosecution witness was testifying during this morning’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering case against former finance minister Najib.

Her testimony came on the heels of heated cross-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over MACC and police investigation into the 1MDB affair during Najib’s administration.

Aida: Among the actions taken when Datuk Seri (Najib) was prime minister was to change the chief commissioner (of MACC), change MACC officers, arrest MACC officers, (then AG) Apandi “NFA” the case despite MACC proposing that further information be sought (for the investigation). These were the actions to hinder MACC.

Shafee: That is a wrong assumption.

Under intense grilling by Shafee on whether she was saying that Apandi was taking instructions from Najib, Aida agreed.

The MACC investigating officer claimed that during her investigation, the anti-graft watchdog seized from Najib’s former special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin a copy of alleged talking points by wanted businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), whereby the contents match the actions taken to hinder the investigation.

Shafee: Do you have any evidence these were done on Najib’s orders?

Aida: They happened in the end (alleged content of Low’s talking points).

Shafee: Any proof to show that Low was acting on Najib’s orders?

Aida: No direct evidence.

Shafee: Assumptions.

Aida: No, because what was stated in the (talking points) notes happened. Amhari used to be Najib’s (special) officer.

Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah

The temperature heated up in the criminal court when Shafee accused Nur Aida of “talking like she was in a coffee shop.”

The prosecution witness however denied this because while she had no direct evidence, her overall investigation showed the hindering of MACC investigation actually happened.

When Shafee asked her whether she was aware that MACC had recently confiscated from Amhari certain funds allegedly from 1MDB or Low, Aida said she was unaware.

In a media statement on Feb 8, MACC announced it had recovered more than RM23 million in funds and assets linked to 1MDB between last year and February 2024.

The anti-graft agency said among them are that on Sept 29 last year, a total of US$972,251.25 (RM4,551,399.45) was returned voluntarily to the Malaysian government by Amhari via wire transfer from BSI Bank Switzerland.

Aida was referring to then AG Apandi on Jan 26, 2016, announcing then prime minister Najib committed no offence in relation to the 1MDB affair.

The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah resumes tomorrow.

Najib’s 1MDB 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 allegedly 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 purportedly committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

1MDB is fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated.

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

The accused was first charged on Sept 20, 2018, and his criminal trial began on Aug 28, 2019. - Mkini