Najib never directed 1MDB management to transfer US$1.03 billion to Jho Low's company - witness

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was informed today that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak never directed any individual from the management of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to transfer US$1.03 billion to Good Star Limited, owned by businessman and fugitive Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Senior Superintendent Nur Aida Arifin, 37, said this when questioned by Najib's lawyer, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, regarding transactions carried out between 2009 and 2011.

Wan Azwan Aiman: Do you agree that former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former 1MDB chief operating officer Radhi Mohamad, former 1MDB chief financial officer Terrence Geh Choh Heng and former 1MDB executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee were the individuals who allowed the money to be transferred to the Good Star account?

Nur Aida: Based on the documents, yes.

Wan Azwan Aiman: You agree that Najib never instructed any individual from the 1MDB management to transfer US$1.03 billion to Good Star? Nur Aida: Agreed.

Earlier, the 49th prosecution witness, in her testimony, confirmed that US$1.03 billion had been transferred to the Good Star account, a company that had no business relationship with 1MDB.

The US$1.03 billion was transferred to the Good Star account through two transactions, with US$700 million transferred in September 2009 and US$330 million in May 2011.

Good Star closed its account at Coutts on Sept 4, 2013, and the company was dissolved on May 2, 2014.

Earlier during the proceedings, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah set three new trial dates, namely, April 30, May 2, and May 31.

Najib, 70, faces four charges of using his position at the time to obtain bribes totaling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The hearing continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA

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