FORMER 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chairman Mohd Bakke Salleh told the High Court today he felt uneasy after suspecting ex-prime minister Najib Razak had a hand in shady deals involving the sovereign wealth fund.

The 68-year-old Bakke said he felt something was amiss after his message to Najib on the affairs surrounding the proposed joint venture between 1MDB and PetroSaudi International Ltd went unanswered.

Bakke said it was unusual for Najib not to reply to his text message as the former prime minister would usually send a feedback.

He said in the text, he told Najib there were several matters raised by the board of directors to the company management that were not complied with.

“I sent an SMS to Najib about the affairs in the JV and that the 1MDB management was not doing as they were told,” Bakke testified.

“He did not reply and it did not cross my mind to report this to any authority on the financial misconduct of 1MDB’s management because I assumed I had already done so via SMS sent to Najib.

“I hoped Datuk Seri Najib will take appropriate action against the management of 1MDB if he found any wrongdoing on their part.

“So when my message was not answered, I felt he was involved and something was happening without my knowledge,” he said.

Najib is standing trial for corruption over the misappropriation of RM2.28 billion of 1MDB funds.

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

Bakke, who is the prosecution’s 15th witness, told the court he decided to resign as chairman and board member of 1MDB due to the alleged shady deals.

He also told the court he did not personally inform Najib of his intention to resign and admitted his action was a sign of protest.

Reading his witness statement during proceedings today, Bakke said he resigned on his own free will.

“My resignation on October 19, 2009 was due to the fact that the 1MDB management refused to follow the instructions of the board of directors,” Bakke said.

“I resigned as a sign of protest and I did not want to be involved in any discussions and decisions regarding 1MDB.”

Meanwhile, Bakke explained that he instructed his secretary to deliver his resignation letter to Najib as he did not want to be persuaded (by Najib) to stay.

He then said that Azlan Mohd Zainol – another former 1MDB director – had also agreed to resign due to the uncertainties surrounding 1MDB.

“If I send the letter myself, he would have probably convinced me to stay. That is why I had my secretary to deliver the letter.”

“(Tan Sri) Azlan (then director of 1MDB) informed that he, too, would resign soon after I did, so as not to offend or embarrass Najib and avoid him thinking that we do not want to help him in 1MDB,” he added.

Bakke was later released from the witness stand as he had to attend a meeting.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Bakke would be recalled at a later date. – May 9, 2022.