A FORMER AmBank relationship manager said she was surprised when fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that he had not communicated with her over the management of Najib Razak’s bank accounts.

Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 52, who handled the former prime minister’s accounts, said this when she was informed about the matter by Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah at Najib’s trial, involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.

Shafee: Jho Low was shown the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) chats by the MACC, and he said he couldn’t recognise (the messages) and that he never spoke to you. You’d be surprised?

Yu: Yes.

Shafee: In his witness statement, Jho Low said he had nothing to do with bringing Najib’s accounts to the bank.

Yu: I would be surprised.

The 41st prosecution witness who handled bank accounts belonging to Najib said Low had communicated with her on many occasions.

Low made the statement to the MACC when he was questioned in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on November 27, 2015.

During today’s proceedings, the court heard the BBM chats between Low and Yu on the status of Najib’s accounts, in which Low gave many instructions to Yu regarding the transactions and Najib’s bank statements.

The lawyer then questioned the witness on Low’s offer of her employment at one of his companies with a higher salary in 2013.

Shafee: Did Jho Low attempt to offer you employment?

Yu: Yes, he did. I said I had a lot of things to think about. I have a family and I wouldn’t want to work according to his lifestyle.

Shafee: Did the subject matter come up again?

Yu: He kept asking and I politely said no. I just said I had to think about it.

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

The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. – Bernama, February 2, 2023.