Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, a former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, told the High Court today he was not aware he had committed an offence by not declaring US$200,000 (RM834,440) loaned to him by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.
When asked if he could trace the transaction of the US$$200,000 into his Maybank account, Amhari said the documents had been seized by the authorities.
He said when he failed to repay the loan, Jho Low asked him to ‘take his time’.
Amhari said he decided to borrow from Jho Low back in 2012 as he was not eligible to apply for a loan with either a local financial institution or Bank Negara Malaysia for the amount.
KUALA LUMPUR: A former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court today he was not aware he had committed an offence by not declaring US$200,000 (RM834,440) loaned to him by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.
Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, 43, who is the key witness in the former prime minister’s trial, said the loan was for the purchase of a house and for property-related matters.
Under cross-examination by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the witness said he did realise it was an offence taking up the loan, without seeking permission from his principal.
“I did not know. It was not clear to me that it was an offence,” he said.
Amhari added he had not paid the principal amount of the loan.
He also testified that he did not have to pay interest on the sum.
Shafee: Did you pay interest on the US$$200,000 loan?
Amhari: No interest.
Shafee: You have not paid the US$$200,000 principal?
Amhari: I have not.
When asked if he could trace the transaction of the US$$200,000 into his Maybank account, Amhari said the documents had been seized by the authorities.
“I will try (to trace the transaction),” he added.
Amhari also testified that he was aware Jho Low was a businessman who had dealings with the government, specifically the Prime Minister’s Office, Economic Planning Unit and the Ministry of Finance.
In the previous proceedings, Amhari had described Jho Low as a ‘good lender’ for letting him borrow the money to purchase a property in Kota Damansara.
He said when he failed to repay the loan, Jho Low asked him to ‘take his time’.
Amhari said he decided to borrow from Jho Low back in 2012 as he was not eligible to apply for a loan with either a local financial institution or Bank Negara Malaysia for the amount.
Najib, 66, 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.
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