PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s “macai” (henchman), Low Taek Jho or Jho Low and two others helped arrange the transfer of millions of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds into the former prime minister’s bank accounts, the Court of Appeal heard today.

Ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram submitted this before a three-member bench led by Judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil in the hearing of Najib’s appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.

The other two judges on the bench were Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.

Abdul Karim: Why were the trio, Jho Low, Datuk Azlin Alias (Najib’s late principal private secretary), former SRC CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil not jointly charged with Najib over the criminal case? 

To this, Sithambaram replied that Najib was the only one charged because there was no "common intention" between the appellant (Najib) and the other three.

Sithambaram said the trio followed directives issued by the appellant who had an “overarching” control over SRC.

Sithambaram pointed out that red notices have been issued by Interpol to track down Jho Low and Nik Faisal to assist in the investigation into the case. 

"So far, the duo remain at large. My lord, our case is that the appellant asked them (trio) to do it (transfer SRC funds into Najib’s accounts)," he said.

Meanwhile, on claims that Jho Low had manipulated Najib's bank accounts, Sithambaram said Najib was the one" who had been playing tricks "to "bury the obvious truth”.

"It is absurd that Jho Low funnelled money into the former premier’s accounts in order to “trick” Najib.

"We submit that it is absurd of the appellant to contend that the actions of Jho Low putting in funds into the personal bank accounts of the sitting prime minister of the country, was to trick the prime minister into believing that he had funds which he did not.

"Blaming Jho Low for ensuring that the appellant had adequate funds in his personal account is simply outrageous," he said.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on July 28 last year sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and a RM210 million fine after finding him guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position, involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

The hearing of the appeal continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA