FORMER 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) director Ismee Ismail told the Najib Razak trial today he did not know that the company’s mastermind Low Taek Jho had wanted senior staff to work in silos.

Ismee said it was not a good practice in the corporate field and agreed with lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that it was a reason why the state investment firm had failed as a company.

When Shafee asked Ismee during cross-examination today if he was aware that his members of management were given this directive to work in silos by Low, Ismee replied that he was not aware at the time. 

He said he was never informed by any members of the management that Low had directed them to work in silos.

Ismee also concurred with Shafee’s suggestion that by giving such an order, Low could direct people to do things without others knowing.

Shafee: The three witnesses (Shahrol, Hazem and Azmi) said they worked in silos. (Do you) agree with me, that by giving such order, people can do things, in secrecy, without others knowing?

Ismee: Yes.

In past proceedings, 1MDB’s former chief executive officer Sharul Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, as well as its former chief financial officer Azmi Tahir testified that they had worked in silos on Low’s instruction.

Low did not hold a formal position at 1MDB but is accused of running it by proxy for former prime minister Najib.

Shafee suggested to Ismee that Sharul, Hazem and Azmi were “parroting” the same line of “working in silo” throughout their witness statements.

The lawyer also suggested that the three witnesses were using it as an excuse to avoid being queried on their own misdeeds in IMDB, to which Ismee said that Low’s directives could not be used as excuses to avoid responsibility. 

“In my personal view, you can’t use that as an excuse,” Ismee said. 

Najib is standing trial for corruption at the Kuala Lumpur High Court over the misappropriation of RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds. 

He faces 25 charges – four for abuse of power and 21 for money-laundering – for offences committed between 2011 and 2013. 

The hearing before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. – March 21, 2022.