Kuala lumpur: The High Court today was informed that Richard Templeman, a financial fraud investigator based in the United Kingdom, did not trace if the USD620 million returned by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the Tanore Finance Corporation account eventually made its way back to the former Malaysian prime minister.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Templeman admitted this during a cross-examination by Najib's legal counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. The questioning took place during the ongoing trial concerning 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) USD5.64 billion civil lawsuit against Najib and six other individuals.

During the proceedings, Muhammad Shafee questioned Templeman about whether he had tracked the USD620 million to see if it had been rerouted back to Najib. Templeman responded with a definitive 'no.' The defense lawyer then emphasized the importance of such an investigation, considering Templeman's expertise as a fraud investigator. Templeman clarified that he had only examined the relevant bank statements and lacked knowledge about the eventual destination of the funds.

Muhammad Shafee further suggested there was no evidence demonstrating that the USD620 million, after being returned to the Tanore account, had been channeled back to Najib. Templeman concurred with this assertion, stating, "Yes." When pressed for any evidence regarding the funds' return to Najib, Templeman reiterated that he had none.

The trial, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Redzuan Idrus, is set to continue tomorrow. The civil suit was filed on May 7, 2021, by 1MDB and its subsidiaries, including 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited, and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited, formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited.

The plaintiffs have accused Najib and the other defendants, comprising former finance director Terrence Geh Choh Heng, former executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, former chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh, former chief operating officer Radhi Mohamad, former investment director Kelvin Tan Kay Jim, and former chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, of breach of trust, breach of statutory duty, abuse of power, and conspiracy to misappropriate 1MDB funds.

It is noteworthy that on December 26, 2025, Najib, aged 73, was sentenced by the High Court to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.4 billion after being found guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.