A FORMER AmBank relationship manager who handled bank accounts belonging to Najib Razak today admitted at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that she failed to obtain written authorisation to contact fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, about the former prime minister’s bank accounts.

Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 52, said this when she was queried by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah during Najib’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.

The 41st prosecution witness made the confession when asked whether she had any written authorisation to negotiate with Low regarding the management of Najib’s accounts, when Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, former 1MDB chief investment officer, was the authorised mandate holder of the accounts at the material time.

Shafee: Was there a written authority for you to contact Jho Low regarding Najib’s account?

Yu: No. Nothing in writing.

Shafee: Is that a failure on your part as a banker?

Yu: Yes, it was my failure.

During today’s proceedings, Shafee requested that the banker produce her termination letter as he believed her dismissal was linked to her conduct over Najib’s accounts. 

Yu said no show-cause letter was issued to her prior to her termination from the bank, and that there were many reasons behind the dismissal. 

“I would like to have it (termination letter) on Monday, so please don’t come back and say you don’t have it. I hope you don’t do that,” said Shafee.

Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to get bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering.

The trial before Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues Monday. – Bernama, January 27, 2023.