KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the High Court here today that he was falsely implicated in the misconduct of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) affairs. Najib argued that the allegations against him were based solely on Jho Low’s presence at his residence and their purported close relationship was overly sensationalised, particularly given that former 1MDB chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 1MDB former general counsel Jasmine Loo and former AmBank customer relationship manager Joanna Yu had even closer relationships with Jho Low.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Najib emphasized that Jasmine Loo, Joanna Yu, and Shahrol Azral had more personal interactions with Jho Low, noting instances where they prepared meals for the businessman. This, he argued, highlighted the exaggerated nature of claims about his own relationship with Jho Low. Najib pointed out that he never prepared any meals
for Jho Low, which he mentioned during his testimony while reading the first volume of his 525-page witness statement.
Today marks the fourth day the former Pekan MP has taken the stand to defend himself against charges related to the misuse of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and money laundering involving the same amount. Najib stated that while Jho Low was occasionally present at his residence in Langgak Duta, it is crucial to understand the context of his interactions with Jho Low during that time. He explained that his confidence in Jho Low stemmed from the image Jho Low projected as a capable and well-connected individual.
Najib asserted that he had no reason to doubt Jho Low’s intentions or actions, believing his interactions were in Malaysia’s best interests. However, Najib clarified that trusting Jho Low did not equate to giving him authority to act on his behalf with 1MDB management or directors, nor did it mean he authorized Jho Low to obtain his signature on critical documents like 1MDB’s Special Rights
Redeemable Preference Shareholder Resolution (SRR) and Minutes of Representative (MR).
Najib refuted claims made by Jasmine Loo, who testified that she handed over SSR and MR documents to Jho Low at Najib’s residence to obtain his signature. Najib argued that Loo’s testimony sought to create a false impression of conspiracy between him and Jho Low. He stated that any resolutions he signed were only after being approved by the 1MDB board through a Director’s Circular Resolution (DCR) attached to the documents he was requested to approve.
On October 30, Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered Najib to enter his defense on all 25 charges, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him. The trial is set to resume tomorrow.