BEFORE they went into hiding, Low Taek Jho and former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil gave anti-graft officers their word they would return to Malaysia to cooperate in trials, the High Court heard today.

They said this to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers who took their statements abroad in 2015, said MACC investigating officer Rosli Husain, a witness for the prosecution.

Low had his statement recorded by the MACC on November 27, 2015, just months after authorities raiding his premises in Kuala Lumpur in relation to investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

Rosli told the Kuala Lumpur High Court at Najib Razak’s trial today that anti-graft officers took the Penang-born financier’s statement in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Rosli did not elaborate on the reason Low was there.

Rosli also told the court that Low had left Malaysia on May 29, 2015. On July 5 the same year, Bank Negara raided AmBank’s offices and other SRC International-linked premises.

On October 17, 2015, in Jakarta, MACC officers managed to get Nik Faisal and record his statement, and a second statement was taken later the same month, Rosli added.

“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 co-operate in this trial,” Rosli said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Isyak Mohd Yusof on why the MACC did not impose bail on the duo.

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

Immigration records show Low had left Malaysia on May 29, 2015, from Subang Airport, while Nik Faisal left two days before the 14th general election on May 7, 2018 via KLIA.

Interpol red notices were issued on June 11, 2018 for the duo as well as SRC International-linked suspects Mohamed Redzuan Adamshah and Toh Lean Seng.

Their passports were cancelled on June 14, 2018, Rosli said.

The MACC also issued arrest warrants for Low’s associates, former 1MDB finance director Terrence 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 on May 8, 2018. Loo left days later on May 17, 2018. Tan left on May 12, 2015, the court heard.

Interpol red notices were also issued for the four.

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 is charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power.

The trial continues tomorrow. – August 13, 2019.