NAJIB Razak’s former special officer, Amhari Efendy Nazaruddin, today denied at the 1MDB trial that he was protecting fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, who allegedly misrepresented himself as a royal adviser a decade ago.

Amhari previously testified in his witness statement that Low, also known as Jho Low, had made the claim just prior to seeking an audience with then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Lumpur in late 2008.

The Terengganu palace denied the claim a year later. 

At the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, Amhari denied accusations by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that the witness had failed to inform his superiors then of Low’s misrepresentation. The witness also denied that he failed to do so because he was “close with Jho Low”.

Amhari told the court that his options for action were limited then, as he was a junior officer and that he had limited access to the prime minister. 

Amhari added that he only managed to interact directly with Najib six months after working for him.

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.

Shafee also referred to minutes of a meeting – which were tendered as evidence last week – where a representative of Istana Negara voiced concerns on June 30, 2009, regarding Low’s claim he was the king’s adviser.

Amhari said he was aware of the concerns but did not raise the matter with Najib’s former chief of staff Aziz Rahim or Najib’s former principal private secretary Azlin Alias.

Amhari also maintained he did not fully grasp TIA’s issues as he was a junior officer then.

He said he was preparing for Azlin to take over the TIA “portfolio” in 2009 as the latter was more capable.

The witness added he was also unaware whether former TIA CEO Shahrul Ibrahim Halmi raised the matter of Low’s misrepresentation to Najib. 

Shafee: Don’t you find it strange when the CEO does not say anything?

Amhari: No comment. 

Najib faces up to 20 years imprisonment if found guilty. 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. – September 18, 2019.