Jho Low’s instructions were Najib’s mandate, says ex-1MDB CFO

Hailey Chung Wee Kye Hailey Chung Wee Kye Updated 4 years ago · Published on 11 Nov 2021 2:05PM · 1 Comments

EVERY instruction from Low Taek Jho to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) senior management is an instruction from Najib Razak, a former 1MDB chief finance officer (CFO) testified today.

Azmi Tahir, the 12th prosecution witness in the former prime minister’s 1MDB-Tanore trial, said fugitive businessman Jho Low was Najib’s trusted person and adviser.

The 48-year-old said on the first day of his job in 1MDB on June 1, 2012, he was already told by Low in a one-to-one meeting that the latter’s instructions were mandates from Najib.

Azmi said he later confirmed with Najib’s former principal private secretary, Azlin Alias, who agreed.  

“The officers in this system were forced to follow Low’s instructions because every instruction from him is an instruction from Najib,” Azmi testified at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“And this is in line with Article 117 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of 1MDB company because every important decision must be under the direction and approval of the prime minister.

“Najib is the person who has the ultimate power in making any decision, especially involving investments, financial decisions and national interest.”

Azmi also said that as CFO, he was part of a secret circle arranged by Low with the “blessings” of Najib.

“Certain individuals were selected and organised in the top management of 1MDB and board of directors to ensure that actions and instructions from behind (Low and Najib) are implemented.  

“It was a ‘work in silo’ system, and these instructions were only known to the people in the system through the coordination of Low and Azlin.

“I will receive instructions from them in the form of a mandate from Najib as prime minister,” he said.

Azmi said those in the circle, aside from himself, were then chief operating officer Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, former chief executive officer Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh, former general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, and former deputy CFO Terence Geh Choh Heng.  

“As for the board of directors, I know they have all dealt with Low, but I don’t know if they are in the ‘work in silo’ system.

“Low told me that all assignments are on a need-to-know basis.

“We will only be told of orders and actions based on the scope of our assignments or as far as we need to know only,” Azmi said.

Najib, 68, is facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

The Pekan MP faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The trial continues before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah. – November 11, 2021.

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Comments

  • We had PH and PN in the chair at Putrajaya, my question what has the gomen in particularly PDRM efforts to extract and bring back this fat boy back to face the court as the main thief character in question defence line is that was not aware what's going on in 1MDB and that he was manipulated by certain management people of 1MDB. Now testimonies from witnesses especially from the top executives level their statements are in line. If PDRM can't bring this fat boy back rather then to spend the public funds on ministers vehicle why can't the fund be used to engaged Mosad to bring this person back so that this episode can be presided in court and seal it once and for all. The RAKYAT was given a show under Najib but the events surrounding it says otherwise now he is banging that he was kept in the dark on what's going on, to me it's like a small kid excuse and that is why bring back fat boy to face justice if Mosad we cant engaged them there are a plenty of such private team out there that we can engage with. I mean Najib and his predecessors as head of gomen has engaged "Consultants" which was paid in millions so to me I can't see any reason why on earth Ismail and his gomen cant engage one so that we all can sleep at night peacefully.

    Posted 4 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply