NAJIB Razak’s SRC International trial heard that Interpol red notices for Low Taek Jho, the alleged mastermind behind the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, and former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil have been in place since June 11 last year, as the two central figures in the case are still missing.

In fact, despite an alert by Bukit Aman’s National Central Bureau to its Hong Kong counterpart that Low, more commonly known as Jho Low, was believed to be at the Maggie & Rose Family Members Club in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong authorities never arrested Low. 

Also believed to be with Low at the time was his associate, Eric Tan Kim Loong.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Rosli Husain, the prosecution’s 57th and final witness, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that Interpol was alerted in Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and China.

When examined by prosecutors on Tuesday, Rosli said fugitive financier Low and Nik Faisal had promised to return to Malaysia and assist investigations after their statements were taken overseas.

Low was questioned in Abu Dhabi on November 27, 2015, while Nik Faisal was questioned twice in Jakarta in October, 2015. Both men are still at large.

On why the MACC did not impose bail on the duo, Rosli said: “As both (Low and Nik Faisal) had their statements recorded and because they gave the commitment, we were confident that they would return to Malaysia to cooperate in this trial.

Low left Malaysia on May 29, 2015, while Nik Faisal left the country on May 7, two days before last year’s general election.

Immigration Department placed both men on a travel blacklist on May 14 last year, with arrest warrants issued on May 22.

Interpol red notices were issued on June 11 last year for the duo as well as SRC International-linked suspects Mohamed Redzuan Adamshah and Toh Lean Seng.

Their passports were cancelled on June 14 last year.

MACC also issued arrest warrants and alerted Interpol over red notices for Low’s associates, former 1MDB finance director Terence Geh, Eric Tan, 1MDB executive director of business development Casey Tang and Jasmine Loo.

Geh and Tang left on the eve the 14th general election. Loo left on May 17, 2018.

Tan left on May 12, 2015, two weeks before Low fled.

The court only had a day of testimony from Rosli, as the case was adjourned on Wednesday after Najib called in sick with conjunctivitis. The trial is expected to resume tomorrow.

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.

He is charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years jail.

SRC International was a subsidiary of 1MDB.

Najib’s legal team is led by prominent Umno lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas leads the prosecution, while Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali presides. – August 18, 2019.