KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) – The trial of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds this week has heard the evidence about the alleged role of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low in 1MDB’s scandal.
Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, who was the former special officer to Najib has described Jho Low as “Najib’s political strategists and unofficial advisor”.
Herewith quick recap of testimonies by Amhari Efendi, 43, who is one of the key prosecution witnesses at the trial before Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Sept 10.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of having used his positions to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
DAY 6 (Sept 10)
- Amhari Efendi told the High Court that, Jho Low was already familiar with Najib and his family, long before he himself came to know the fugitive businessman.
- He said Jho Low shared with him about his friendship with Najib and his family on their first meeting in Penang in 2007.
- “The first time I met Jho Low, he was talking actively about Najib and his family. It reflects that Jho Low has known Najib for a long time,” he said when cross-examined by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
- Nevertheless, Amhari Efendi, agreed with Muhammad Shafee’s suggestion that he did not have any independent evidence to show that Jho Low knew Najib earlier and only depended on what Jho Low told him.
- The High Court was also told there were likely private meetings that took place between Najib and Jho Low.
- The witness also told that he would (double) check with Najib on Jho Low’s instructions only if the matters were too complicated.
- Referring to page 17 of Amhari Effendi’s witness statement, Muhammad Shafee asked if the witness checked with Najib on Jho Low’s instructions to which Amhari Efendi said, “it would depend on the subject matter”.
- “If the subject matter was about social media such as Facebook, there were times that we checked, as it was fairly easy, if it was a serious matter or too complicated, then we needed to check often,” he said.
- Amhari Efendi told the High Court that Jho Low was among Najib’s political strategists, and his involvement was not just limited to 1MDB matters but was one of the former premier’s advisers in regard to political plans and election in the country.
- The witness said Jho Low was also Najib’s unofficial advisor as he was one of the individuals who has a close-knit relationship with the Pekan MP to a point that he was able to advise and discuss with him.
- Muhammad Shafee: In your witness statement you described Jho Low as ‘pencatur’ (strategist). What do you mean?
Amhari Efendi: He makes the plans and arrangements which also involved strategies and he was able to make things happen.
DAY 7 (Sept 11)
- The High Court adjourned the trial to Tuesday as the former prime minister had caught conjunctivitis in both eyes and he was given two days medical leave.
- Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed Muhammad Shafee’s application to postpone the trial on medical grounds and it was also not objected by the prosecution team.
- Najib, who is also Pekan MP, is alleged to have committed four counts of corruption at Jalan Raja Chulan branch of AmIslamic Bank Berhad, at No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.
- For the 21 money laundering charges, Najib is alleged to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.
NNN- BERNAMA
