KUALA LUMPUR: A former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak told the High Court here today that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, attended a Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) steering and coordination committee meeting in 2009 by invitation.
Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, 43, who is the eighth prosecution witness in the 1MDB trial of the former prime minister which entered its eighth day today, said the meeting held on March 5, 2009 was to discuss raising bonds for TIA.
TIA was renamed as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in September 2009.
Cross-examined by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah whether he was part of the secretariat along with Lim Poh Seng in that meeting, the witness replied, “Yes”.
Earlier, the witness was shown several proposals from Goldsman Sachs, JP Morgan and Nomura to issue the bonds for TIA.
Muhammad Shafee: The proposals were given by Jho Low?
Amhari Efendi: I cannot remember.
Muhammad Shafee: The meeting minutes stated that the shortlisted companies would make the presentation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (at that time)?
Amhari Efendi: Yes
To another question, the witness said he could not remember whether Jho Low had suggested AmBank or AmInvestment bank for TIA.
Muhammad Shafee: If I were to suggest to you that this was a directive by Jho Low, tell me who suggested AmInvestment bank?
Amhari Efendi: I cannot remember. I cannot recall.
Muhammad Shafee: I’m putting it to you that, you know this whole thing. Jho Low suggested AmBank because he had such a close relationship with AmBank?
Amhari Efendi: I don’t know that.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of abusing his position to corruptly obtain RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering related to the money.
The Pekan MP allegedly committed the four offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Jalan Raja Chulan branch, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014, and the 21 charges, between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013, at the same place.
The trial before Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues. — Bernama
