I didn't try getting China to settle 1MDB, SRC debts - Najib

Summary

• Najib Abdul Razak denies prosecution contention he tried to get China to settle the debts of 1MDB and its former subsidiary SRC International

• The former premier says he sent then-special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin to China to check whether the regional power is keen on being involved in infrastructure projects in Malaysia.

1MDB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak rubbished the prosecution's claim today that he tried to get China to settle the debts of Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB and its former subsidiary SRC International.

Najib, who was also a former finance minister, told the High Court in Putrajaya that he sent his then-special officer Amhari Efendi Nazarudin for a two-day visit to China in June 2016 to check whether the regional power was interested in being involved in infrastructure projects in Malaysia.

During the RM2.27 billion abuse of power and money laundering trial against him, Najib was batting off deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib's cross-examination that the then premier sent Amhari on the solo trip to broker a deal with China to resolve 1MDB and SRC's debts.

Akram was referring to written talking points prepared by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) to Amhari over what the then special officer alleged meeting with Chinese officials of China state investment firms, such as on the topic of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Malaysia.

Najib: It would look ridiculous and subject to serious international condemnation. Anything involving state-level enterprise goes all the way (up the Chinese administrative ladder). No way they (the Chinese administration) could have done this.

Akram: Hence, since you answered my question, it is less possible for Amhari to testify this (in court deceitfully).

Najib: I do not what he (Amhari) said, this is based on Jho Low's talking points, we do not know what he (Amhari) said (to Chinese officials). There is no way another government can settle 1MDB's debt, what is the mechanism?

Najib: If we pay them, then how? Settle debt of 1MDB all of a sudden? People will ask many questions. It is a ridiculous scheme. You cannot get away with this. That is Amhari's testimony, I cannot confirm.

Akram: I put to you that as prime minister (Najib's) special officer and head of the economic division of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), it is not possible for Amhari to say this without having acted on your instructions.

Najib: I disagree, this is an absurd scheme.

‘Secret mission’

The prosecution's narrative was that Najib directed Amhari to head to China on a “secret mission” to try to get the regional power to agree to resolve 1MDB and SRC's debts and that the then special officer was assisted in the endeavour by Low.

Najib, however, contended that it was not a covert mission but a normal official trip to ascertain the Chinese administration's receptiveness to invest in infrastructure projects in Malaysia.

The former premier disagreed with the deputy public prosecutor's contention that he sent Amhari to China for his personal interest.

"No, no, no, not correct. I disagree. Dahsyat (Terrible)," Najib replied heatedly while sitting in the witness box.

Akram then grilled Najib on why he sent a relatively junior officer Amhari to China when there were many more experienced officers in PMO and Wisma Putra.

Amhari was a few months into his appointment as Najib's special officer when he flew to China.

Akram: You know he (Amhari) does not speak Mandarin.

Najib: Yang Arif (Your Honour trial judge), China do not do business in Mandarin (only), they are proficient in English, or they have an interpreter. It does not make a difference. They are very advanced all over the world (in the global economy).

When Akram suggested that Low acted as Amhari's interpreter in China, Najib denied this notion as the regional power had its own interpreter for the then special officer.

"They (Chinese officials) speak and are fluent in English, business English, China quite advanced now," the former minister reminded Akram.

Akram: I put it to you that Jho Low's involvement here in this trip by Amhari to China was not just limited to logistics and introduction (of Amhari to Chinese officials) but also that he was involved in discussion with China representatives.

Najib: I disagree.

Akram: I put it to you that at the very least you know for a fact that he (Jho Low) would be involved as a mediator between Amhari and China representatives.

Najib: No, I disagree.

Amhari is one of the 50 witnesses who testified for the prosecution against Najib.

The accused's defence team claimed that Amhari took bribes from Low, who is on the lam and still being tracked down by the authorities to assist in the investigation into the 1MDB affair.

During Akram's grilling, Najib dismissed the DPP's contention of wrongdoing in the ex-premier also having directed Amhari to visit the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi immediately after the China visit in 2016.

Amhari visited China on June 28 and 29, while the visit to Abu Dhabi was on June 30 of the same year.

"Yes, I wanted a resolution between 1MDB and IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Corporation in relation to billions of ringgit in debt) in a diplomatic manner, because I wanted to avoid this matter going to (court)," Najib said.

The ex-finance minister explained that the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince then wanted to meet a direct representative of the Malaysian prime minister, hence the accused had sent Amhari instead of anyone from 1MDB.

Six years and going

On Oct 30 last year, Najib was ordered to defend himself against four abuses of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB.

Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that the prosecution succeeded in establishing a prima facie (answerable) case against Najib over the Minister of Finance Incorporated’s (MOF Inc) wholly owned company.

The judge ruled that Najib had to answer the charges due to the strength of the various 50 witness testimonies during the prosecution stage of proceedings that lasted six years since the trial began in 2019. The accused was first charged in 2018.

Since the prima facie ruling, Najib has been testifying in his defence against the 1MDB criminal charges.

The accused maintained that he had no knowledge of wrongdoing at 1MDB and that Low and management members masterminded the embezzlement at the fund.

He is also relying on the defence that he was led to believe he would receive a donation from Arab royalty over his contribution to the Islamic world.

Lawyer Tania Scivetti led Najib's defence team today.

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