NAJIB Razak’s legal team accused his former special officer, Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, of lying under oath regarding his true relationship with Low Taek Jho, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard last week.

During cross-examination, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah accused Amhari of making inconsistent statements on how often he would double-check with the former prime minister regarding the authenticity of Low’s instructions on 1MDB.

“I am putting it to you that you are inconsistent and you don’t even realise you are inconsistent because you are not telling the truth. You are fabricating things against my client because you want to implicate my client, when you are in fact working hand-in-glove with Jho Low,” said Shafee, a suggestion which Amhari denied.

In his witness statement, Ahmari said he only occasionally checked with Najib regarding Low’s instructions. However, when cross-examined by the defence, the 43-year-old said he checked with Najib most of the time.

Amhari also denied a claim by Shafee that Low rewarded him with US$1 million (RM4.2 million) for helping him.

Shafee was referring to US$800,000 transferred into Amhari’s BSI bank account in Singapore and a further US$200,000 transaction in his Maybank account. Amhari said the latter was a loan from Low to buy a house.

After news of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal broke in 2015, Amhari said Low tried to get government officials, including Najib, to say he was not involved. Najib was briefed on a frequently asked questions (FAQs) prepared by Low, the court heard.

“Jho Low told us to say he had no involvement in 1MDB in the FAQ. It was to be an underlying statement for relevant key individuals to say. It was also suggested that Datuk Seri Najib also say it this way,” Amhari said.

Low later asked Amhari to shred the document, which the witness said he didn’t do so. When asked by the defence as to the whereabouts of the document, Amhari believed it was seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

“I am putting it to you that you could not have possibly remembered that and today, you are making this claim because you have been put up to it because of your own precarious position with the MACC. That if you don’t play ball, you may be charged,” said Shafee, a suggestion which Amhari denied.

Amhari also told the court that Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, was fond of Low, who was invited to attend exclusive parties held at their home in Kuala Lumpur.

Amhari testified that Low spoke openly about his close relationship with Najib and his family. During several meetings, where Najib’s principal private secretary Azlin Alias was also present, Amhari said he could hear Low speaking to Rosmah on the phone.

“Whenever she called, Jho Low would tell us to keep quiet and he would say that Rosmah was on the other line. I knew it was her because her conversations were loud.

“In my conversations (later) with Rosmah, she always spoke very fondly of Jho Low,” the witness added.

Amhari said although Low was not a family member, he was always the mainstay at exclusive parties and events held at Najib’s private residence at No. 11, Jalan Langgak Duta in Taman Duta.

“These parties were attended by VIPs and royalty, but Jho Low was always invited.”

Najib is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself by RM2.3 billion and 21 counts of laundering the same amount.

The 66-year-old is represented by a dozen lawyers, led by Shafee.

Gopal Sri Ram, a former Federal Court judge, leads the prosecution Collin Lawrence Sequerah presides.

The trial continues on Tuesday. – September 15, 2019.