THE managing director of construction firm Putrajaya Perdana Bhd told the high court today that fugitive financier Low Taek Jho lied to him about channelling RM170 million through the company’s subsidiaries in 2014.

Rosman Abdullah told Kuala Lumpur High Court the money was supposed to be an advance for a contract, but he had later discovered that some of it made its way into the personal bank counts of former prime minister Najib Razak.

He said he was informed of transactions into subsidiary Putra Perdana Construction’s Maybank account on July 8, July 14 and August 8, 2014, of RM35 million, RM105 million and RM30 million respectively.

“I was initially told by Jho Low that the RM170 million was an advance for a contract he was negotiating to be entered into by Putra Perdana Construction,” Rosman testified today.

The witness made no mention was the contract was for.

“Jho Low said he would ultimately ensure that if the RM170 million was not utilised for the proposed contract, he would ensure that there would be repayment and no liability would accrue to the Putrajaya Perdana Bhd.

“As Jho Low was still the beneficial owner of Putrajaya Perdana at the time, I did not think I had a say in this as long as there was no eventual liability to Putrajaya Perdana Bhd when my buy-out was concluded.”

Rosman is currently the 70% shareholder of Putrajaya Perdana Bhd through Cendana Destini Sdn Bhd, which he wholly owns.

Putrajaya Perdana has no formal links to SRC International.

The witness said although he entered into an agreement to buy Putrajaya Perdana Bhd on March 9, 2012, from Jho Low, the Penang-born businessman remained in control of the company until the RM240 million buyout was complete on April 13, 2015.

“He was also the only one who gave instructions to me,” said the 52-year-old witness.

“In addition, I referred to Jho Low for key or major decisions. At that time, I had no reason to doubt that he was acting in the best interest of the companies.”

Rosman confirmed that RM27 million was transferred from subsidiary Permai Binaraya Sdn Bhd into Najib’s AmBank 800 account on July 8, 2014, and a further RM5 million was transferred from Putra Perdana Construction to Najib’s 906 account on September 10, 2014.

Najib is on trial for receiving RM42 million from SRC International in 2014 and 2015.

Prosecution witnesses have previously testified that RM170 million originated from SRC International and was funnelled to the accounts of Putrajaya Perdana’s subsidiaries before returning to the government-linked entity.

Rosman made no mention of the source of the funds today.

Prosecutors argued last year that the transfers were to mask money trails, in which RM42 million ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.

The prosecution also accused Najib of working with Low to defraud SRC International, which the former prime minister denies.

Low was highly effective scammer, alleges witness

Rosman is the eighth defence witness. Today, he also recounted that although Putrajaya Perdana was controlled by other signatories in 2014, some transactions were carried out under the instruction of Jho Low and then Putrajaya Perdana executive director Jerome Lee, who was nominated by Jho Low.

Both Jho Low and Lee are currently fugitives.

When prompted on whether he was aware the two AmBank accounts belonged to Najib, Rosman said: “No, not at the time of transfers”.

“However, I was shocked when my attention was later drawn to certain internet publications, which alleged that the AmPrivate Banking-1MY and AmPrivate Banking-MY accounts belonged to Najib.

“When I was remanded by the MACC in July 2015, the investigators also told me the same thing,” the witness said, further adding that he had no knowledge prior to his arrest that SRC International was a government-owned company.

“Prior to my arrest Jho Low came across as a competent and trustworthy businessman, and we developed what seemed to me at that time to be a cordial professional relationship. I thought of him also as a micro manager.

“Subsequent to my arrest and remand, and now having what seems to be a clear picture of what happened in the RM170 million transfers episode, I would describe him as a highly smooth and effective scammer in so far as these transactions are concerned.”

Rosman will be examined by the defence tomorrow, after which he will be cross-examined by the prosecution led by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.

Putra Perdana was sold in 2008 to UBG Bhd, which was linked to Sarawak governor Taib Mahmud’s family.

UBG was later acquired by Petrosaudi International Ltd (Seychelles), reportedly assisted by a loan from 1Malaysia Development Bhd in 2010.

The company was later sold to Cendana Destini Sdn Bhd in 2012.

The trial, before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, continues. – February 26, 2020.