Kuala Lumpur: The former chairman of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) testified in the High Court today that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, was present in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York during the former prime minister's official visit in November 2009.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, who served as 1MDB chairman from 2009 to 2016, stated that Jho Low was in Najib's hotel suite while Najib met with Goldman Sachs executives, including then-CEO Lloyd Craig Blankfein and Tim Leissner. Che Lodin clarified that Jho Low did not participate in the discussions and was in another room during the meeting.

Che Lodin further testified that he was present in New York as 1MDB's CEO, Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, had requested him to join the delegation accompanying then-Prime Minister Najib. Che Lodin understood from Shahrol Azral that Najib would be meeting with foreign investors.

When questioned by Najib's counsel, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, regarding the nature of Najib's meeting with Goldman Sachs, Che Lodin stated that the meeting was neither unusual nor sinister. He explained that it was part of a broader effort to engage foreign investors and promote Malaysia as an investment destination.

The ongoing trial sees Najib, aged 71, facing 25 charges, including four counts of abusing his position to accept RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah had previously ordered Najib to enter his defense after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him. The hearing continues tomorrow.