Najib denies call with Dzulkifli was interfering in 1MDB probe

Summary

• Najib Abdul Razak denies he was trying to interfere in 1MDB investigation via telephone conversation with then deputy public prosecutor Dzulkifli Ahmad in early 2016.

• Ex-prime minister is testifying over audio recording of his conversation with Dzulkifli.

1MDB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has denied his 2016 telephone conversation with then deputy public prosecutor Dzulkifli Ahmad amounted to interfering in the investigation into 1MDB.

The ex-finance minister gave this testimony to the High Court in Putrajaya today regarding an audio recording of the conversation.

During the RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against him, Najib was responding to cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib about whether it was appropriate for a then-sitting premier to have such a conversation with someone involved in the probe.

Akram: The DPP (Dzulkifli) was updating you on the status of the investigation against you?

Najib: Correct.

Akram: You agree that you were then-prime minister during the conversation (Jan 5, 2016)?

Najib: Correct.

Akram: You as then-prime minister should not have received an explanation from a DPP on the investigation against you.

Najib: I did not interfere at all.

Akram: The fact that you listened to an update on an investigation against you, that is wrong.

Najib: I disagree.

Akram: The fact that you did inquire and listen to details of the investigation against you, which was being carried out against you in 2015 on money deposited in your account, showed you indeed had personal interest in 1MDB.

Najib: I disagree with what was said, I do not have any personal interest.

Initially from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), Dzulkifli was appointed as MACC chief commissioner on Aug 1, 2016. His tenure lasted until May 14, 2018.

The audio recording was part of several released by former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya in early 2020.

These audio recordings are being relied on by the prosecution team in the 1MDB trial against Najib.

‘I didn't cover for Low in Parliament’

During Akram's grilling, Najib denied ever trying to cover up fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho during a parliamentary session on March 12, 2015.

The accused was replying to the DPP referring to a Dewan Rakyat Hansard on Najib replying to then Wangsa Maju MP Tan Kwee Kwong.

The Hansard stated Tan asked Najib whether Low had anything to do with 1MDB, and the then premier replied that the businessperson had never worked at the fund.

The Hansard also recorded Najib saying all decisions at 1MDB were solely done by its board and management team.

Akram: You had the chance to explain in Parliament, but you swayed from the original question and said he (Low) never worked there. I put to you with that answer that you were trying to cover for Low.

Najib: No.

The accused previously testified that he used Low due to the businessperson's close contacts with Middle Eastern royalty and officials among others.

When Akram grilled him on why he did not just make Low part of 1MDB, Najib countered that this would be inappropriate as the businessperson was a representative of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Akram: Would it not have been better if he (Low) was made part of 1MDB?

Najib: No, he was also representing UAE and Saudi side, there would have been conflict of interest. He brought investment into Johor via Mubalada energy.

Akram: Why not make him a member of (1MDB) board?

Najib: No, there would have been conflict of interest.

Akram: To have him in 1MDB would have been an advantage to the fund.

Najib: No, he was representing UAE and Saudi then.

Akram: Hence you chose not to give him a formal role?

Najib: Yes.

Akram: You did that as you were colluding or using him as your intermediary to receive money from 1MDB.

Najib: No, no, no.

Akram: If the authorities asked you about (1MDB) transaction, you can shift the blame to him.

Najib: No, I disagree.

Akram: Despite the red flags on Low, you still trusted him to do favours for you like (Najib's then special officer) Amhari (Efendi Nazarudin's trip to) China.

Najib: I utilised him (Low) for his external connections.

Akram: Despite the red flags, you still utilised him for personal favours.

Najib: I disagree.

Najib rubbished Akram's contention that fugitive Low was the accused's mirror image to embezzle funds out of 1MDB.

Answerable case

On Oct 30, the criminal court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion of funds from troubled sovereign wealth fund 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.

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