Datuk Amhari Efendi, who is the key prosecution witness in Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s corruption trial involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), maintained that he had no knowledge of the USD$884,996 (RM3.7million) deposited into his BSI Bank in Singapore.
Earlier, Amhari who was Najib’s former special officer testified that the account was opened with instructions from Low who claimed Najib had given his ‘blessings’ and would ‘take care’ of things if there was an issue about the account.
During cross-examination by Najib’s lead defence counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the latter suggested that the money was a ‘reward’ to Amhari.
“I disagree… the money according to Low was for the 13th General Election.
“There was a discussion between Jho Low, my boss the late Datuk Azlin Alias and me on the account which Low claimed was for the political fund.
KUALA LUMPUR: The defence today tried to cast doubts on the USD$884,996 (RM3.7million) deposited into Datuk Amhari Efendi’s bank account, stating it was a ‘reward’ for helping fugitive businessman, Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.
However, Amhari who is the key prosecution witness in Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s corruption trial involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), maintained that he had no knowledge of the money transferred into his BSI Bank in Singapore.
Earlier, Amhari who was Najib’s former special officer testified that the account was opened with instructions from Low who claimed Najib had given his ‘blessings’ and would ‘take care’ of things if there was an issue about the account.
During cross-examination by Najib’s lead defence counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the latter suggested that the money was a ‘reward’ to Amhari.
“I disagree… the money according to Low was for the 13th General Election.
“There was a discussion between Jho Low, my boss the late Datuk Azlin Alias and me on the account which Low claimed was for the political fund.
“I do not know about the money as there was no indication when or why it was deposited into my account,” Amhari told the High Court.
He also disagreed that the amount was ‘peanuts’ for an election or investment.
Earlier, he said he opened the account under Low’s instructions as he was following Azlin’s lead.
Shafee: Do you feel Low’s instructions were strange? (in relation to the opening of the account).
Ahmari: No. Because i do not know how political funding works.
Shafee: Did you cross check with Najib?
Amhari: No.
Amhari said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) did not freeze the account, but he believed the money had already gone missing.
He also revealed that the BSI Bank account was registered under a shell company, Aerosphere Ltd, in which he was a sole shareholder.
He said according to Low, Najib was aware of the account which was later refuted by Shafee.
Shafee: My client told me that he did not know you opened the bank account in Singapore.
Amhari: I do not know.
Shafee: You flatly believed in Low and did not bother to check with Najib?
Amhari: I never did that because I followed Azlin who is Najib’s principal special officer and observed how he maneuvered the situation.
He said both he and Azlin were afraid of threats such as losing their jobs if they decided not to follow Low’s instructions.
Shafee: You felt the threat came from the Prime Minister’s Office or prime minister himself (Najib)?
Amhari: Not directly from the prime minister because Low had the blessings of Najib.
Shafee: Did you feel the threat as being from your own boss (Najib) and conveyed by Low?
Amhari: As my ex-boss (Azlin) said during our private meetings, the threat was not directly from the prime minister, but indirectly from the prime minister.
Shafee: It was from Low?
Amhari: Low.
Najib is facing four charges of having used his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
The former finance minister is alleged to have committed gratification offences at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad, at No.55, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014.
For the money laundering charges, Najib is alleged to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013 and Aug 30, 2013.
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