KUALA LUMPUR: Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer believed that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, was mandated by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to orchestrate all of the company’s bonds issuance and International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) guarantee as the actions taken by the former premier corresponded with the talking points sent to him by Jho Low.
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, said this in the High Court here today during examination-in-chief by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram on the 15th day of Najib’s 1MDB trial.
Sri Ram: You said you believed that Jho Low was mandated by Najib. What are the reasons you had that belief?
Shahrol Azral: Because at that point in time, I had observed the actions and talking points that originated from Low were fulfilled by the actions of Najib.
Sri Ram: So in other words, the actions taken by the accused corresponded with the talking points sent to you by Low?
Shahrol Azral: The actions tallied perfectly.
Earlier, when reading out his witness statement, the witness pointed out that he believed that Jho Low was mandated by Najib to orchestrate all of the company’s bonds issuance and IPIC guarantee.
The court also heard from Shahrol Azral that the 1MDB board of directors had in October 2012 approved the company to borrow RM800 million from Affin Investment Bank for the purpose of taking over Mastika Lagenda.
“The approval was made by the board through a director’s circular dated Oct 9, 2012.
“The board had also given me the power to manage the agreement matters and to sign the agreement on behalf of the company as its CEO and managing director,” he said.
Najib is facing four charges of using his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering related to the amount.
The Pekan Member of Parliament is alleged to have committed the gratification offences at the Jalan Raja Chulan branch of AmIslamic Bank Berhad, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014, and the money laundering offences, between March 22, 2013 and Aug 30, 2013, at the same place.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
— BERNAMA
