AFTER the 1MDB scandal broke in 2015, former prime minister Najib Razak acted to tamper a government audit report by removing “with corruption intention” from it to avoid criminal action against him, the prosecution said today.

Senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who leads the prosecution in the 1Malaysian Development Bhd audit-tampering trial, said his team will seek to prove that Najib, abetted by former 1MDB chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy, tampered with a 2016 audit report on the troubled state investor.

In his opening statement today, Sri Ram said after conspiring with fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, to pilfer the fund, Najib began to work to cover his tracks.

“The adage is that the truth will be out. That happened here. Sometime in early July 2015, the 1MDB scandal broke. It received wide publicity. Najib then began to cover his tracks.

“Much of what he did forms part of the ongoing trial in the 1MDB case… One of the steps that Najib took to cover his tracks on the extent of his role and that of Jho Low in the business and affairs of 1MDB gives rise to the charge in this case. His objective was to conceal the truth.”

A report was prepared by the then auditor-general, Sri Ram said.

“There were passages in that report that caused concern to Najib though they were true in fact. He became nonplussed if not agitated. He took positive steps to have those passages altered or removed. What happened was abnormal.”

Sri Ram said despite the fact that the report was ready to be placed before the Public Accounts Committee, a meeting was convened on February 24, 2016 at Najib’s behest, which was chaired by then chief secretary to the government.

“As a result of what transpired at that meeting the relevant passages were amended or removed. The accused Arul Kanda by his conduct, preceding the meeting in question, at that meeting and following it, abetted the accused in this transaction.”

Sri Ram said the prosecution will by direct and circumstantial evidence prove the extent to which Najib went to remove material from an official record to prevent disclosure of the true state of affairs.

“Najib knew, or it was certainly within his contemplation, that if the truth emerged, he would be exposed to civil or criminal liability for the reasons already stated. This is an objective fact which the prosecution will establish through the acts and omissions of the accused in the circumstances of the case.”

Today, amended charges were re-read to the duo. Arul Kanda, dressed in a dark blue suit and Najib, appearing in a beige suit, said they understood the charges and claimed trial again. – November 18, 2019.