Kuala lumpur: An offshore asset recovery specialist testified in the High Court today that she could not confirm whether fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, was the 'number one' figure in the alleged conspiracy involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Angela Barkhouse, managing director of Kroll (Cayman) Ltd and head of Kroll's Offshore Practice, stated that individuals who received funds would naturally be of interest to her investigation. She was being cross-examined by Najib's lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, on the fifth day of the trial of 1MDB's USD5.64 billion civil suit against Najib and six others, before Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Redzuan Idrus.
During the cross-examination, Muhammad Shafee inquired whether Barkhouse had encountered the name of Jho Low during her investigation. Barkhouse confirmed that she had. When asked if she agreed that Jho Low was central to the controversy and alleged conspiracy to dismantle 1MDB, Barkhouse replied affirmatively, acknowledging Jho Low as one of several key figures.
However, when pressed on whether Jho Low could be considered the "number one" figure in the conspiracy, Barkhouse expressed uncertainty. Muhammad Shafee further probed, suggesting there must have been other individuals or entities involved in her investigation. Barkhouse responded that those who received funds, including Najib, were indeed of interest to her.
The civil suit was filed by 1MDB and its subsidiaries-1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited, and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited, formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited-on May 7, 2021. The suit names Najib, along with 1MDB's former finance director Terrence Geh Choh Heng, former executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, former chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh, former chief operating officer Radhi Mohamad, former investment director Kelvin Tan Kay Jim, and former chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, as defendants.
The writ of summons alleges breach of trust, breach of statutory duty, abuse of power, and conspiracy to misappropriate 1MDB funds by the defendants. This civil suit is being heard separately from the previous criminal proceedings against Najib. On December 26, 2025, Najib was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.4 billion for abuse of power and money laundering involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds.
The trial is set to resume tomorrow.