The report on the China trip to bail out debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was prepared by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, even though Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ex-special aide, went for the meeting.
Amhari who was testifying as the eighth prosecution witness in Najib’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds, told the High Court that he was personally sent to China as the latter’s special envoy.
Earlier, the court heard that a tip-off from Amhari was the reason the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission raided Low’s home in Jalan Kia Peng, here.
The witness told the court how he revealed to the commission about the whiteboard drawings as part of the discussion on the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), now known as 1MDB in Low’s kitchen.
KUALA LUMPUR: The report on the China trip to bail out debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was prepared by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, even though the former special officer of Datuk Seri Najib Razak went for the meeting.
Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, who was Najib’s ex-special aide, said he updated the former prime minister on the report titled “Update on China-Malaysia Economic Programme: July 18, 2016” as soon as he got back from the trip and shared a copy of the report with Najib.
Amhari who was testifying as the eighth prosecution witness in Najib’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds, told the High Court that he was personally sent to China as the latter’s special envoy.
Under cross examination by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the witness said no author was stated in the report.
In his previous testimony, Amhari said he had received the document either from Low via email or personally from former 1MDB director Terrence Geh.
Shafee: You did not write your name or Jho Low’s name? There was no author of the report?
Amhari: No.
Shafee: Why was that?
Amhari : Because it was clear there were only the three of us (Amhari, Low, Geh) involved in this mission… It was very clear that it came from Jho Low. Najib knew.
Shafee: You said this document originated from Jho Low. How did you obtain it?
Amhari: Through email.
Shafee: Your verbal claim was that you showed the document to the PM and it was prepared by Jho Low? He (PM) sent you to China as his special envoy, are you saying you did not prepare any report?
Amhari: Correct.
Shafee: Did you ask him (PM) to read?
Amhari: I explained to him on the first part, where there was a suggestion to change the sector board from private to public regarding several projects which was discussed during the China trip.
Shafee: You gave Najib this copy?
Amhari: I gave him a copy, then I believe he returned it back to me.
Earlier, the court heard that a tip-off from Amhari was the reason the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission raided Low’s home in Jalan Kia Peng, here.
The witness told the court how he revealed to the commission about the whiteboard drawings as part of the discussion on the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), now known as 1MDB in Low’s kitchen.
He said he visited Low’s home twice for the discussion.
“I was detained by the MACC not long after I came back from Cambodia with my family in July, last year,” he said.
The trial continues tomorrow before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
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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