NAJIB Razak never ordered for any reports to be lodged over 1MDB after opposition politicians raised an outcry over the financial scandal in 2015, the former prime minister’s corruption trial was told today. 

Under re-examination by lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, the accused’s former special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin told the Kuala Lumpur High Court he did not know of any such instructions from his boss.

Sri Ram: At any point in time – between 2015 and 2018 – did you receive any instruction from the accused to lodge a police report in relation to 1MDB?

Amhari: No.

Gopal: An MACC report?

Amhari: No.

Najib left the Prime Minister’s Office after the Barisan Nasional government he led was routed from power in the May 9 polls last year.

Earlier, Amhari was asked by Sri Ram to explain the “Duit 1MDB lah, bro!” comment made by Najib’s principal private secretary Azlin Alias in early 2015.

Azlin died in a helicopter crash on April 4, 2015.

Amhari said the remark was made after Azlin returned from Najib’s office, adding that it was out of character for the normally stoic man.

He said the working environment at PMO was very tense between late 2014 and early 2015.

“(This was) because many reports and proof of fraud in 1MDB had surfaced. It can be said that the PMO was besieged over 1MDB in 2015.

“We at the office decided to take the position of defence because we believed it was a conspiracy against the PM.

“The issues of funds misappropriation, the PetroSaudi deal, Jho Low’s lavish lifestyle and The Wolf of Wall Street – these all arose from 1MDB,” he said, adding that the scandal attracted wide publicity.

Amhari, the prosecution’s eighth witness, was then released from the stand.

Najib is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment upon conviction.

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

Sri Ram, a former Federal Court justice, leads the prosecution, while judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah presides. – September 23, 2019.