Only Najib and Jho Low knew 'full picture' of 1MDB plan - former aide

NAJIB TRIAL | Only former premier Najib Abdul Razak and financier Low Taek Jho had the “full picture” of manoeuvrings in relation to 1MDB at the time, a former senior aide told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Testifying on the third day of the 1MDB criminal trial, Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin labelled Low a "master manipulator" when dealing with local and foreign parties, and that much of this was known to Najib.

Amhari, 43, was testifying in front of judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah on 1MDB’s joint ventures with PetroSaudi International (PSI) and Aabar Investments PJS BVI (Aabar BVI).

Reading from his witness statement, Amhari explained that he began serving as Najib’s special officer on loan from Bank Negara Malaysia from 2008, when the latter was still the deputy prime minister.

The eighth prosecution witness explained that part of his duties when Najib became premier in 2009 was to coordinate programmes related to 1MDB, under the supervision of the late Azlin Alias. 

Azlin headed the Economy Division under the Prime Minister’s Office at the time, and was also Najib’s private secretary.

“Throughout my experience dealing with Low, I found that he is smart and manipulative when dealing with officers of various levels and ranks, from Malaysia or overseas, most of which was known to Najib.

“Therefore, only Low and Najib have the fullest picture on the manoeuvrings they were planning.

“Low was a master manipulator and in this situation, I can now say that I was used for insincere purposes,” Amhari told the court.

It was reported that Aabar BVI was a company set up to appear as Aabar, a legitimate subsidiary of the International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic).

Instead, Aabar BVI was controlled by rogue Aabar officials in coordination with Low (photo).

Low 'unofficial advisor' to Najib

Amhari also told the court that over the course of his 10-year stint, he found Najib to be a "gentleman, (who can) implement what he planned, charismatic and one who smart in getting what he wanted."

Low, meanwhile, was described by the witness as an "important" and "unofficial adviser" to Najib, and who was also close to his wife Rosmah Mansor.

"At times, specific instructions to Azlin or me involving private matters came from Low...

"On many occasions, I was informed by Najib that instructions received from Low had been agreed to by him (Najib)."

Amhari further testified that he and Azlin only knew of alleged misappropriation involving the sovereign wealth fund after media reports began surfacing from 2014, as the duo allegedly worked in “silos.”

Elaborating further, Amhari testified that in the beginning, Low would prepare answers to be used or instruct Azlin on “damage control or follow-ups” when international and local media such as Sarawak Report, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and the now-shuttered The Malaysian Insider began reporting on the fund in 2014 and 2015.

“I confirm my role in this Petrosaudi issue was to act as a go-between to coordinate meetings between Azlin and Low. I attended the discussions.

“...Meanwhile, my involvement in the Aabar JV was to help facilitate (matters) so that the Malaysian government and UAE government did not take the issue of the IPIC payment to the international court,” he said.

He added that despite this, Azlin was not too perturbed by initial media reports on the scandal, as they mainly pertained to Low’s indulgent lifestyle and spending, said to be from 1MDB funds.

This despite the fact that the news had become fodder for gossip in Malaysia, and added pressure to the entire PMO, as it reflected poorly on Najib’s reputation and image.

However, the reports began appearing in early 2015 soon became a "red flag to be handled by the PMO, especially through Azlin."

This is because, Amhari said, the exposés began to involve Najib (photo), and purported "evidence" – pictures, emails and bank transactions concerning alleged misappropriation of funds through Petrosaudi-1MDB dealings and via Low’s personal bank accounts.

‘Low gave us talking points on 1MDB’

Najib’s image, according to the witness, began to be impacted in relation to reports on the purchases of several properties, and the alleged use of 1MDB funds in his stepson Riza Aziz's Hollywood film production house.

“Throughout this time, we (Amhari and Azlin) were instructed by Low through talking points provided by him to inform everyone at the PMO that these (allegations) were manipulations by the opposition and by those who wish to see Najib fall,” he said.

The witness had earlier testified that Low had prepared a series of answers for the PMO to use in case 1MDB was questioned by anyone. Amhari claimed this was communicated to him and Azlin via emails and meetings between the three.

1MDB started out as the Terengganu Investment Authority Bhd (TIA) in March 2009, and turned into a federal entity a few months later.

Companies Commission (CCM) registrar of companies Rafidah Yahaya had testified on Thursday that then newly minted prime minister Najib had moved to change the fund's name.

It was changed from TIA to 1Malaysia Development Bhd in Sept 2009.

Despite serving as TIA adviser, Low did not hold any official post within 1MDB.

Amhari is expected to continue his testimony on Wednesday.

Sequerah allowed for proceedings to be postponed today after lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah stated he had to rush to a relative's funeral.

Najib is facing 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power for receiving RM2.28 billion from 1MDB through the Tanore Finance Corp, a company owned by Eric Tan. The latter is a close associate of Low.

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