1MDB trial: Najib never disputed credit card spending - banker

The RM3 million credit card limit given by AmBank to then premier Najib Abdul Razak was among the highest given to a customer, the commercial bank’s former staff member testified.

Former AmBank vice-president Yeoh Eng Leong also told the Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon that the former finance minister also never complained to the bank over the transactions, which included an RM98,000 bill for a hotel stay in Rome in 2011.

The 35th prosecution witness was giving oral evidence during this afternoon’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial against the former finance minister.

During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Deepa Nair Thevaharan, Yeoh was testifying over the financial statements of the Visa Platinum account ending with 5496 and the Mastercard Platinum account ending with 8961.

In reference to a credit card statement for the Mastercard dated Aug 8, 2011, the witness said there was an RM98,013.63 (€22,461.62) spending at The Westin Excelsior R Roma.

Yeoh also testified over Visa spending of RM4,145 at Aigner-KLCC, as well as RM910 and RM880, spent at Hugo Boss-KLCC, dated Aug 21, 2011, among other transactions.

When Deepa asked the total spending for the cards as of October 2011, the witness said it was RM103,948.63.

Deepa: What is the average credit card limit given to a customer?

Yeoh: Based on my experience, it is RM50,000 per card.

Deepa: What was the credit limit given to Najib?

Yeoh: RM3 million for both cards.

Deepa: Is this the highest limit given to a customer?

Yeoh: This is one of the highest limits given by the bank.

He also testified that both credit cards were cancelled on March 11, 2015, and that there was no outstanding balance on both cards when they were discontinued.

The witness at present works as the Head of Fraud Management at Hong Leong Bank Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Income capacity

During cross-examination by defence counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, Yeoh testified that AmBank had given the RM3 million credit card limit based on consideration of income documents.

When the lawyer asked whether the person’s standing such as being head of state come into play, the witness said no as it would be based on the customer’s income capacity.

When Aizuddin asked whether a customer’s long-standing relationship with the bank could be a factor in such a credit card limit, Yeoh said it would depend on whether the customer has other facilities with the bank such as a loan account.

The witness conceded he was not directly involved in the processing of the credit card application and was not aware of the circumstances leading to the credit card limit.

However, Yeoh reiterated that the bank never received any complaint from cardholder Najib regarding the spending.

Aizuddin: In regard to a person who used the card, you would have no knowledge?

Yeoh: There was no dispute (raised by Najib back then). I that person has used the card, there would have been a dispute (complaint lodged with the bank).

Aizuddin: You have no actual knowledge that the cardholder (Najib) utilised the card?

Yeoh: No comment.

When re-examined by Deepa, the witness reiterated that the bank never received any dispute on the transaction.

Back in 2019 during the separate RM42 million SRC International corruption trial against Najib, Yeoh testified that the then premier did not lodge a complaint regarding the more than RM3.2 million spent using the same two credit cards between August 2014 and January 2015.

The charges

Najib is serving a 12-year jail term, following the apex court’s dismissal of his appeal to overturn his conviction and sentencing in the SRC case on Aug 23.

However, he would be brought out of Kajang Prison to attend other ongoing criminal cases against him, such as the 1MDB trial.

Proceedings before trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues this afternoon as well as tomorrow morning.

Najib is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion from 1MDB.

The Pekan MP was alleged to have committed four counts of corruption at AmIslamic Bank Berhad’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering charges, Najib is purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

The prosecution contended that the wrongdoing at 1MDB was carried out by businessperson Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and several others with the blessing of Najib.

The accused’s defence team, however, claimed that the ex-prime minister had no knowledge of the crime perpetrated at 1MDB and that the embezzlement was solely masterminded by Low and other members of the fund’s management.

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