Kuala lumpur: The High Court here today was told that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was at all times aware of the state of his personal Ambank accounts and actively used them for the issuance of cheques.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 54, revealed that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, had liaised with her through BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) chats on several occasions to check whether Najib's bank account was overdrawn. Yu made these statements during a re-examination by SRC International Sdn Bhd counsel Kwan Will Sen in the RM42 million civil suit brought by SRC and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd, against the former premier.
In court, Kwan referred Yu to a BBM message from Jho Low that read, "Please check if Ambank acc is overdrawn, boss said he wrote a big cheque." Yu confirmed that the term "boss" referred to Najib, indicating that he was aware of and relied on these accounts for issuing cheques. Kwan further questioned Yu, suggesting that Jho Low's messages were relayed from Najib, seeking assurance that there were sufficient funds in his accounts, to which Yu agreed.
Yu also concurred with Kwan's suggestion that Najib had directed or requested Jho Low to contact her to ensure his credit card transactions were processed. When asked if this demonstrated Najib's full awareness and usage of his accounts, Yu confirmed, "Yes."
Meanwhile, during re-examination by Najib's counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, Yu agreed that throughout her role as Relationship Manager for Najib's accounts from 2011 to 2015, she believed the funds credited into the accounts were donations as represented by Jho Low. She elaborated that while she initially believed they were donation monies, her understanding shifted later due to the cash deposits made over the counter. Other than cash deposits, remittances were accepted based on supporting letters claiming the funds were donations.
The 2021 civil suit filed by SRC and Gandingan Mentari seeks a declaration that Najib is liable for the RM42 million, alongside damages for knowing receipt, dishonest assistance, misfeasance in public office, and abuse of power. The hearing before Justice Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan is set to continue tomorrow.