Witness unsure Low was 'no 1' but confirms Najib received 1MDB funds

 

An offshore asset recovery specialist testified in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that she could not confirm whether fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, was the “number one” figure in the alleged conspiracy involving 1MDB funds.

Kroll (Cayman) Ltd managing director and head of Kroll's Offshore Practice Angela Barkhouse, however, said that individuals who received funds would naturally be of interest to her investigation.

She was being cross-examined by Najib Abdul Razak's lead counsel, Shafee Abdullah, on the fifth day of the trial of 1MDB's US$5.64 billion (RM23 billion) civil suit against the former prime minister and six others, before judicial commissioner Redzuan Idrus.

Shafee asked Barkhouse whether she had come across Low’s name during the course of her investigation, to which she answered yes.

He then asked whether she agreed that Low was at the centre of the controversy and the alleged conspiracy to destroy 1MDB. Barkhouse replied: "Amongst others, yes."

When Shafee asked whether she would rank Low as the "number one" figure in the alleged conspiracy, Barkhouse replied that she was not certain.

Shafee pressed further, pointing out that there must have been other individuals or entities she had come across during her investigation.

In response, Barkhouse replied that those who received funds would be of interest to her.

Shafee: By that, you are implying that it includes my client (Najib). Is that correct?

Barkhouse: That is correct.

Breach of trust, abuse of power claims

1MDB and its subsidiaries - 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited, formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited, filed the civil suit on May 7, 2021.

They named Najib, 1MDB’s former finance director Terrence Geh, former executive director Casey Tang, former chief investment officer Vincent Beng, former chief operating officer Radhi Mohamad, former investment director Kelvin Tan, and former chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, as defendants.

The writ of summons stated that the plaintiffs, among other things, accused the defendants of breach of trust, breach of statutory duty, abuse of power and conspiracy to misappropriate 1MDB funds.

The civil suit is being heard separately from the previous criminal proceedings against Najib.

On Dec 26, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.4 billion for abuse of power and money laundering involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds.

The trial resumes tomorrow.

- Bernama