100pct I've never met Jho Low - law firm partner testifies

The partner of a law firm that used to represent 1MDB testified that he 100 percent never met fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho.

However, former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s defence team contended that there is an unnamed witness who claimed that the law firm partner, Mark Lim, attended a meeting involving 1MDB officials and Low (Jho Low).

During today’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial against former finance minister Najib, 32nd prosecution witness Lim - one of the partners of law firm Wong & Partners - testified he never met Low (above) as he only joined the firm in 2010.

The accused’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was grilling the lawyer over what role Brian Chia’s legal opinion played in the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund transferring US$700 million of funds to Good Star Limited.

The prosecution previously contended that Good Star was an entity controlled by Low and that it was misrepresented as a subsidiary of Petrosaudi Limited, with whom 1MDB was involved in a joint venture. The US$700 million was meant to be part of the US$1 billion for the joint venture.

It was also previously contended that Low was present during a few meetings with 1MDB officials in the lead-up to the embezzlement.

During cross-examination by Shafee, Lim claimed that he only joined Wong & Partners in 2010 and had no knowledge about the issue, and that the best person to ask was Chia who was with the firm as far back as 2009.

Shafee: Have you met Jho Low?

Lim: 100 percent I have not met Jho Low

Shafee: There is a witness from 1MDB who (can attest) a meeting where Jho Low, Brian Chia and you were present collectively.

Lim: I disagree with that.

Shafee: The only person in your firm who can confirm the accuracy of opinion is Brian Chia and nobody else?

Lim: Correct.

Lim added that when he joined Wong & Partners in 2010, he merely heard about Low based on a news article that was published that year.

Shafee claimed that this unnamed witness would be called to testify for Najib if the court later orders the accused to enter his defence in the case.

Shafee earlier reminded Lim that he needed to ask these lines of questioning as the prosecution would not be calling Chia as a prosecution witness, thus the defence counsel could not ask these questions from Chia directly.

Among these questions were regarding a civil suit that 1MDB last year filed against Wong & Partners over the whole affair. However, the civil action has since been withdrawn against the law firm.

Proceedings before trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.

Najib’s 25 1MDB charges

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

In relation to the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP was alleged to have committed the offences 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 counts, the former finance minister was 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 Low and several others with Najib’s blessing.

However, the accused’s defence team claimed that Najib had no knowledge of the crime perpetrated at 1MDB and the embezzlement was solely masterminded by Low and other members of the fund’s management.

1MDB is wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

Najib also used to be the chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.

The BN advisory chairperson is serving a 12-year jail sentence after the Federal Court on Aug 23 dismissed his appeal against the SRC conviction over seven criminal charges, the custodial term, and an RM210 million fine in lieu of an additional five years in jail.

Initially a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by MOF Inc. Najib also used to be adviser emeritus to SRC.

1MDB trial: Jho wanted Arab letters to be secret - witness

1MDB trial: Jho referred to Najib as Optimus Prime, says ex-banker

Prosecution ‘belly dancing’ over bank info involving Zeti’s family - Shafee

Apex court to hear Najib’s bid to quash guilty verdict in SRC case in January

Nov 25 decision on Thomas’ bid to strike out Najib’s lawsuit

I never met Najib directly over his account: Ex-PM's banker

Najib’s ex-banker: Jho Low introduced to me two years before 1MDB

Najib still wants King's Counsel for SRC case: Shafee

Ex-AmBank MD reiterates Jho Low introduced him to Najib

Prosecution will call Zeti to answer allegation Jho Low visited her