MORE than RM45 million of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) money were moved into Najib Razak’s bank account, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

AmBank treasury vice-president Salmah Daman Huri said the funds, totalling £8,706,021.92 million (RM45.8 million), were transferred to an AmPrivate Islamic Banking account with the number ending “880” belonging to the former prime minister.

The 23rd prosecution witness said the funds were transferred in five different tranches by Vista Equity International Partners Ltd (Barbados) between October and December 2014.

Vista Equity is a shell company owned and controlled by Eric Tan, a trusted associate of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

“On October 23, 2014, £5,750,000 equivalent to RM30,032,250 were transferred to Najib’s Ambank account ending with 880.

“On November 24, 2014, £694,343.62 equivalent to RM3,624,473.70 were transferred to Najib’s Ambank account ending with 880.

“On November 26, 2014, £2,216.01 equivalent to RM11,567.57 were transferred to Najib’s Ambank account ending with 880.

“On December 10, 2014, £995,000 equivalent to RM5,360,065 were transferred to Najib’s Ambank account ending with 880.

“On December 18, 2014, £1,264,462.29 equivalent to RM6,809,129.43 were transferred to Najib’s Ambank account ending with 880.”

Vista Equity transferred all the above-mentioned funds through Amicorp Bank and Trust Ltd (Barbados) via Standard Chartered Bank (London) to be credited into account number 2112022011880.

Salmah said she was initially unsure who was the account holder of “880” and knew it belonged to Najib only when investigated by authorities in 2018.

Former 1MDB chief financial officer Azmi Tahir earlier confirmed that company money entered Najib’s personal bank account.

The prosecution, on the first day of trial, said it will show that 1MDB funds were transferred in multiple transactions to Najib’s bank account.

Salmah, during cross-examination, said neither Ambank nor Bank Negara Malaysia flagged the transactions mentioned in her witness statement.

“Ambank and Bank Negara did not raise any red flag on the transactions.”

According to her understanding, Salmah said Najib did not raise any report on the transactions into his account.

This despite the bank usually sending a monthly statement to the account holder, she added.

“What is the purpose of sending a monthly statement to the account holder?” asked lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram.

“It is to inform the customer of the balance in their account,” said Salmah.

Najib is standing trial for corruption for allegedly misappropriating RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds. – June 13, 2022.