FORMER AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu declined a job offer in 2013 from financier Low Taek Jho, who at the time was heavily linked with 1MDB and its former subsidiary, SRC International, the court heard today.

During Yu’s cross-examination at Najib Razak’s criminal trial today, defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh referred to a BlackBerry chat log between Yu and Low dated November 23, 2013. 

Low: Do you know anyone good to be hired as CFO/finance manager? Looking to hire for SRC.

Yu: If I think of anyone, I will let you know.

Low: Thanks, can I hire Daniel too? 

Yu said Low was referring to Daniel Lee, another AmBank relationship manager in an eight-man department led by Yu. 

Yu told the court she later declined the overture to hire her or any member of her team. 

Yu: I think he wanted to hire all of us, but we said no.

Harvinderjit: You mean he made you offers to join SRC? This is very lucrative. RM60,000 per month.

Yu: Yes, but we did not want to work with them.

Harvinderjit: Was it for RM60,000 a month?

Yu: I can’t remember if that is the amount. 

1Malaysia Development Bhd owned SRC International before ownership was transferred to the Minister of Finance Inc (MoF) on February 15, 2012. 

The defence previously charged that Low may have worked with rogue bankers as well as SRC International senior executives to defraud the entity.

Earlier today, Yu agreed with Harvinderjit’s contention that Low was has the “controlling ability” over SRC International funds and that among those who took instructions from the Penang-born businessmen was former 1MDB finance director Terence Geh. 

Harvinderjit further suggested that Yu had approved of Geh’s involvement in transactions involving SRC International funds although the latter was not appointed to facilitate any transfer. 

Harvinderjit: The company is not operated by Terence? Right? Where’s the board resolution authorising Terence?

Yu: Board resolution only authorises signatories for the account.

Harvinderjit: Is Terrence the signatory for these accounts?

Yu: No.

Yu added that she dealt with Geh’s subordinate, See Yok Ping. 

Defence lawyers had previously suggested the bankers worked with Low, possibly with the help of SRC International senior executives, to pilfer the government-linked entity.

Najib’s charges are linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to SRC International in 2011 and 2012, for which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in his personal accounts in 2014 and 2015.

The 66-year-old was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of power. – August 1, 2019.