The High Court heard on Monday (Sept 23) that Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ex-special officer, did not lodge any police reports on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), despite the issue having been made known to the public by 2015.
Lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram asked Amhari about his witness statement – where he noted that then-principal private secretary to Najib, the late Datuk Azlin Alias, had snapped after a meeting with the former premier.
Amhari had written in his witness statement that after the meeting, Azlin had gone back to his office and remarked to Amhari,”Duit 1MDB lah, bro,” – before slamming a file he had in his hands on the table.
Amhari, in his witness statement, had said that he interpreted Azlin’s reaction stemmed from media revelations on several issues related to 1MDB, including the joint-venture with Petrosaudi; the lavish lifestyle of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, which allegedly came from 1MDB funds; and the source of funds for the film that Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, Najib’s stepson, was producing.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court heard on Monday (Sept 23) that Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ex-special officer, did not lodge any police reports on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), despite the issue having been made known to the public by 2015.
Amhari, 43, who was under re-examination by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in the 1MDB trial here, added that those working in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had also gotten wind of the 1MDB issue by the end of 2014.
Sri Ram: At any point of time – from 2015 – did you receive instructions (from Najib) to lodge a police report on 1MDB?
Amhari: No.
Sri Ram: What about the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)?
Amhari: No.
Sri Ram was asking Amhari about his witness statement – where he noted that then-principal private secretary to Najib, the late Datuk Azlin Alias, had snapped after a meeting with the former premier.
Amhari had written in his witness statement that after the meeting, Azlin had gone back to his office and remarked to Amhari,”Duit 1MDB lah, bro,” – before slamming a file he had in his hands on the table.
Amhari, in his witness statement, had said that he interpreted Azlin’s reaction stemmed from media revelations on several issues related to 1MDB, including the joint-venture with Petrosaudi; the lavish lifestyle of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, which allegedly came from 1MDB funds; and the source of funds for the film that Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, Najib’s stepson, was producing.
Sri Ram: My question is, why then did you accept the interpretation that it (“Duit 1MDB lah, bro”) referred to the accused (Najib) and 1MDB?
Amhari: I said so because starting from the end of 2014 and 2015 – it was a difficult year for the PMO and for Najib as prime minister. This is because at that time, there were many articles and documents released on the (alleged) misappropriation of 1MDB money. In 2015, it can be said that there were a lot of attacks (serangan) on 1MDB.
He added that there was no other “hot” (hangat) topic at that time apart from the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds.
Amhari said that those in the PMO took the “attacks” as a “conspiracy” against the former prime minister.
Najib, 66, faces 25 charges in total – four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.3bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.
He was charged with the four abuse of power charges under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law.
He faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
The trial continues before High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah Monday afternoon.
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