FORMER AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu said she could have banked in RM55,000 of her own money into one of Najib Razak’s current accounts in 2014 to prevent a cheque from bouncing. 

During cross-examination by defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh today, Yu said that “it was possible” she did this after being unable to contact fugitive financier Low Taek Jho or his associate, Kee Kok Thiam, on September 29, 2014, to address a deficit in Najib’s account ending in the numbers “906”.

Yu said she had to make sure that the cheques did not bounce as it was the prime minister’s. Harvinderjit responded by saying that Low had never told her it was the prime minister’s account.

Yu also agreed with the defence’s contention that RM12.7 million flowed into the account between June 2014 and March 2015.

On September 29, 2014, the account was overdrawn by RM55,000 for a RM80,000 cheque.

Yu had attempted to contact Low that day, but was unable to reach him as he was on a plane at the time. 

She said she managed to get a hold of Low’s secretary, identified only as Josie, who was in Penang.

Yu said she told Josie that she was previously informed by Low to get in touch with Kee for the money. But Kee, who was in Malacca at the time, could not be reached that day.

According to chat logs with Josie, Yu said she may have to “fund first”.

Yu agreed with Harvinderjit’s suggestion that the money was paid back to her the following day by Josie.

Harvinderjit told the court that the “906” account was overdrawn 19 times in 2014 and 2015.

He also later suggested that “on numerous occasions”, cash deposits were made on the same day Yu told Low and his associates that Najib’s accounts were overdrawn.

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. – July 31, 2019.