Najib ‘1MDB’ Razak blames everyone under his charge except himself

Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia

No News Is Bad News

 Facebook images

Najib ‘1MDB’ Razak blames everyone under his charge except himself

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5, 2024: The ongoing hearing of 25 charges against disgraced and shameless former prime minister Najib “1MDB” Razak appears to be a blame game for the VVIP jailbird.

In his testimonies thus far, he blames everyone under his charge in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), except himself as the boss.

To date, the unrepentant kleptocrat had testified that:

> 1MDB’s former CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and the company’s management team must be held accountable;

> HE was “disheartened” by the testimony of ex-colleague Finance Minister II Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, alleging that Ahmad was angry that a highway project in which his son was involved failed to secure governmental approval; and

> FORMER 1MDB director Ismee Ismail unfairly implicated him in a decision to dispose of the company’s stake in a failed joint venture, PetroSaudi International (PSI).

 

Najib is facing 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014

 

Today in the High Court, Najib said fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) “exploited” his trust.

 

He denied having a close relationship with Jho Low despite his (Jho Low) presence his (Najib) residence.

 

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the court proceedings:

Jho Low ‘exploited’ my trust, says Najib

Ho Kit Yen

-05 Dec 2024, 02:15 PM

Najib Razak says he did not have a close relationship with Jho Low despite his presence at the former prime minister’s home. 

Najib Razak said the ‘slightly pudgy’ Jho Low had remarkable charisma and an extraordinary ability to navigate diverse and influential circles.

KUALA LUMPUR: Najib Razak told the High Court here that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) “exploited” his trust, resulting in the former prime minister being falsely portrayed as complicit in the 1MDB fiasco.

Denying former CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi’s claims that he and Low had a close relationship, Najib said the perception arose due to Low’s presence at his home.

“While I do not deny that on certain occasions Jho Low was present at my home, it is important to understand the context of my interactions with him during that time.

“My confidence in him arose from the compelling image he projected as a highly capable and well-connected individual,” Najib said, pointing out that Low is well connected to the Terengganu and Middle Eastern royal families.

The ex-PM also said Low helped Malaysia bring back students studying in Egypt when the Arab Spring protests broke out and also helped to secure from Saudi Arabia an increase in Malaysia’s haj pilgrimage quotas.

“What set this slightly pudgy young man apart was his remarkable charisma and an extraordinary ability to navigate diverse and influential circles and consistently position himself as someone who could deliver results.

“Just because I trusted Jho Low, it does not mean that I gave him instructions to act as a go-between for myself and the management or directors of 1MDB.

“If he (Low) brought any (company shareholder) resolution to my home, I would question him,” said Najib.

He said it was Shahrol who was close to Low, as the former 1MDB CEO visited the Penang businessman’s home with several other members of the company’s staff and a former AmBank banker.

“Shahrol admitted he cooked nasi goreng for Jho Low and Joanna (Yu), made soup for him. I never cooked anything for him,” said Najib.

Nothing to hide on Saudi donation, says Najib

Najib also insisted he never hid the fact that he had received a purported Saudi donation, adding that he had spent the money on corporate social responsibility activities. All transactions were properly recorded, he said.

“I issued cheques, not cash. If I wanted to steal (from 1MDB) as the prosecution claims, I would not have brought back (the money) and told BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia) about it. This would be bordering on insanity,” said Najib.

Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion which were deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Friday.