NAJIB TRIAL | The defence team today cranked up the heat on a former aide of Najib Abdul Razak, accusing him of "playing ball" with the MACC against the former prime minister to escape criminal charges himself.

Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (above), during cross-examination, grilled Najib's former special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin's recollection about a briefing for Najib, which included documents provided by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho.

"You seem to have a terrible memory, even about your arrest. How can you remember this?" Shafee demanded when Amhari insisted that Najib was briefed by his late principal private secretary Azlin Alias, whom he reports to, about documents from Low on 1MDB.

Shafee: I'm putting it to you, Amhari - You couldn't have possibly remembered that and today, you are making this (statement) because you have been put up to it because of your precarious position with the MACC. You may be charged.

Amhari: I don't know whether I will be charged or not.

Shafee: I will be blunt. You have to play ball because you may be charged by the MACC.

Amhari: I disagree.

Shafee: [...]The fact is you are not telling the truth.

Amhari: I disagree.

Amhari (photo), testifying as the eighth witness in Najib's 1MDB graft trial, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that Low provided various documents to him and Azlin during secret night meetings at Prince Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, which included FAQs on how to deal with the fallout from 1MDB.

He said Azlin would then cross-check these documents with Najib.

Amhari said one such document was an FAQ prepared by Low advising key individuals, including Najib, to say that Low was not involved in 1MDB.

During cross-examination, Shafee also claimed that there were inconsistencies in Amhari's testimony.

Shafee pointed out to Amhari he had earlier stated that he and Azlin had "most of the times" checked with Najib on instructions from Low.

Shafee said the testimony on paragraph 17 of Amhari's witness statement, however, was contrary to his own words at paragraph 25 which stated that Amhari and Azlin would only check with Najib "sometimes" and "whenever necessary".

Amhari later asked for some time to read his witness statement again.

The exchange between Shafee and Amhari on this matter went on for more than 15 minutes before Amhari agreed that they checked with Najib "only when necessary".

Shafee: I'm putting it to you that you are inconsistent and you don't realise that because you are fabricating evidence against my client.

Amhari: I disagree.

Shafee: Because you are trying to implicate my client with Jho Low.

Amhari: I disagree.

Shafee: I'm putting it to you, you are working hands in glove with Jho Low.

Amhari: I disagree.

Shafee also pointed out that Amhari had received US$200,000 from Low as a loan for the purchase of a property which had yet to be returned.

Najib is facing 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power over the alleged misappropriation of RM2.28 billion from 1MDB.

The trial is being presided by Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

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