Najib, Jho Low had 'unmistakable bond': 1MDB trial judge

 

The trial judge in the RM2.3 billion 1MDB case against Najib Abdul Razak has found that an unequivocal nexus existed between the former prime minister and fugitive financier Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

This is according to evidence from multiple witness testimonies presented during the trial, said former High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah in his judgment today.

In his ruling, Sequerah pointed to the testimony of the ninth prosecution witness, former 1MDB chief executive officer Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, who testified that Low had acted as the principal orchestrator of 1MDB projects on Najib’s behalf.

“Another witness, the 15th prosecution witness, former 1MDB chairperson Bakke Salleh, testified that Low acted as a conduit between the board and the accused, with management taking instructions outside the board,” said Sequerah, who has been elevated to the Federal Court.

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The judge added that the prosecution presented compelling evidence showing that Low managed the former prime minister’s affairs in 1MDB and also oversaw his personal bank accounts at AmBank.

“Several witnesses described the nature of the relationship between the accused and Low regarding 1MDB matters, with many having direct interactions with him.

“Taken together, these pieces of evidence reveal an unmistakable bond between the accused and Low,” he said.

Collin Lawrence Sequerah

Sequerah noted that certain individuals, including Low and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil (another former 1MDB CEO), could not be located, and thus subpoenas could not be served.

‘Najib had full knowledge of 1MDB affairs’

Sequerah further dismissed Najib’s assertion that he was solely focused on managing the country, emphasising that he had instructed Low to accompany his former aide, Amhari Effendi Nazaruddin, on trips to Abu Dhabi and China.

“The inference here is that Low acted as Najib’s proxy, conduit, and agent. The argument by the defence that Najib was misled by the 1MDB management is unmeritorious,” he said.

The court is now adjourned for Friday prayers and will resume at 3pm.

Najib, 72, faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds through the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

These charges were brought under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act, which carries up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

As for the additional 21 counts of money laundering, he is accused of committing the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

These charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5 million, or both.

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- Bernama