KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today was told that then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin regarded fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, as an unsavoury character.
Former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, 43, made the disclosure after he agreed with the suggestion by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah on the matter on the 10th day of the former premier’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s trial (1MDB).
Muhammad Shafee: According to the minutes, Jho Low was misrepresenting the Sultan. You knew how Sultan of Terengganu regarded Jho Low, and he said Jho Low is an unsavoury character?
Amhari Efendi: Yes, based on the minutes.
The witness also concurred with Muhammad Shafee that the state government of Terengganu was unhappy with Jho Low because he was manipulating Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), which was renamed as 1MDB in Sept 2009.
Muhammad Shafee: I put it to you that you knew (about the misrepresenting), but you failed to inform this to your bosses or even to Najib.
Amhari Efendi: I disagree.
The eight prosecution witness again agreed with Muhammad Shafee’s suggestion that Jho Low has the ambition to have a partnership with Mubadala Development company in the Terengganu oil and gas sector without the knowledge of TIA.
When asked whether Jho Low had mentioned about his ‘ultimate ambition’ (of having a partnership with Mubadala) to him, the witness said, “No”.
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
