Kuala Lumpur: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak admitted in the High Court today that he relied on Jho Low to assist his special officer, Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, in exploring potential wealth-generating projects during a visit to China in June 2016.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Najib, who is the first defense witness in his trial over allegations of misappropriating RM2.3 billion of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds, explained that Jho Low's assistance was necessary due to his good relations with business people in China. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib raised concerns about this decision, pointing out that Jho Low, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, was widely reported to have been involved in misusing 1MDB funds.
Ahmad Akram questioned Najib's decision to rely on Jho Low, given his notorious reputation at the time. Najib responded by emphasizing his intention to generate wealth for Malaysia swiftly, acknowledging the widespread stories about Jho Low's involvement with 1MDB but maintaining that Jho Low's connections were valuable.
Najib concurred with Ahmad Akram's suggestion that despite Jho Low's reputation as a fraudster, he still sought his help, provided the project in China could benefit the country. When asked about the specific project, Najib mentioned the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.
The prosecution also scrutinized Najib's alleged decision to send Amhari to China on a covert mission aimed at addressing 1MDB's debt issues in 2016. Ahmad Akram proposed that the trip was arranged by Jho Low and approved by Najib in a desperate bid to seek assistance from China.
Najib refuted the prosecution's claim, describing it as unreasonable and internationally condemnable. He argued that there was no mechanism for China to resolve 1MDB's debts, and he reiterated that the trip's purpose was exploratory, focusing on meeting with businessmen operating state-owned enterprises in China.
Najib could not specify the businessmen Amhari was supposed to meet, stating that Amhari was tasked with identifying the names himself. When asked why officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Malaysia's Ambassador to China were not involved in the trip, Najib justified it as a preliminary exploration and said official channels would be engaged once China agreed to cooperate.
Ahmad Akram further questioned Najib's choice of Amhari for the trip, suggesting that there were more experienced individuals available. Najib defended his decision, expressing confidence in Amhari's capabilities to provide quick feedback.
On October 30 of the previous year, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered Najib to enter his defense, concluding that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against him. Najib faces 25 charges, including four counts of using his position to receive RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds as bribes and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. The trial is set to continue tomorrow.