Jho Low Orchestrated 1MDB Operations – Witness
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigator agreed in the High Court here on Monday that controversial businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, orchestrated all operations within the company 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Senior Officer Nur Aida Arifin said so after counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah proposed the suggestion during the trial involving corruption and money laundering charges totaling RM2.3 billion linked to funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), involving the former Prime Minister.
As the 49th prosecution witness, she agreed that, although not officially appointed and holding no position within 1MDB, Jho Low had control over the strategic state investment company. However, she said, Jho Low’s role was based on the instructions of the former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Muhammad Shafee: In the witness’s statement, you mentioned that Jho Low orchestrated, so my question is, what did he orchestrate?
Nur Aida: Jho Low orchestrated the operations of 1MDB.
Muhammad Shafee: So I would say that what you mean is that Jho Low controlled everything.
Nur Aida: Yes.
Muhammad Shafee: At the initial stage of the formation of the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), Jho Low was officially appointed as an advisor to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (at that time), and not by Najib.
Nur Aida: Agreed.
Muhammad Shafee: Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 1MDB, Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, had a habit of taking instructions from Jho Low to be conveyed to the management of 1MDB.
However, this witness denied the matter, as it was an instruction from the involved former Member of Parliament for Pekan.
For the record, TIA was established on February 27, 2009, as a state-owned entity of Terengganu and was later renamed 1MDB on September 25 of the same year.
Najib, 71, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totaling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah (now Court of Appeal Judge) continues with Nur Aida reading a 95-page witness statement.
Proceedings continue on Tuesday.
