NAJIB Razak’s former special officer told the 1MDB trial today that he was not aware that a transaction involving a large sum of money from abroad into his Maybank account would be flagged by Bank Negara.

Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, a former Bank Negara officer, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he was not aware that he needed clearance from the central bank when receiving US$200,000 (then about RM600,000) into his account eight years ago.

When cross-examined by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the witness reiterated that he received the amount into his current account on April 5, 2011 from fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low.

Shafee: Didn’t you get queried by Bank Negara?

Amhari: I am not aware of the need. I told Maybank over the phone when they called. I told them that the money was for a bridging loan to pay for a house loan. And then Maybank did not ask any further questions.

Shafee: How come you did not know? You worked at Bank Negara.

Amhari: I would think that Maybank officers would have alerted me but everything was okay so I understood that it was okay.

Shafee: Do you know that a huge amount of money from abroad would be flagged?

Amhari: No.

Shafee: Are you aware that not getting a clearance for the money is an offence?

Amhari: No, I am not.

Shafee: Are you sure? Because you worked at Bank Negara before.

Amhari: Bank Negara is large and I was at the economics department.

Amhari said the money was used as a bridging loan to buy a RM1.85 million home in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Najib is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of money-laundering.

The 66-year-old is represented by a dozen lawyers led by Shafee. Gopal Sri Ram, a former Federal Court justice, leads the prosecution while Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah presides.

The trial continues tomorrow. – September 18, 2019.