KUALA LUMPUR – The prosecution in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial today told the high court here that 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) former general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan would be called to testify in the case.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution is planning to call Loo after taking into consideration the testimony from the assistant director of the police anti-money laundering criminal investigation division, Foo Wei Min, in which several matters had been linked to Loo.
To this, trial judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah said that this development was something new.
On November 16, Foo testified that Loo would be a vital witness to unveil all the issues about Tanore Finance Corp, an entity that had transferred US$681 million (RM3.19 billion) into Najib’s personal bank account and was said to be controlled by Eric Tan Kim Loong, an associate of fugitive businessman Jho Low.
Foo also agreed to the suggestion by Najib’s counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, that Loo’s testimony could either “put a nail in Najib’s coffin” or acquit him in terms of the issues relating to Tanore’s operations.
Foo also testified that Loo was the personal assistant to Jho Low.
On July 12, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that Loo was arrested by police on July 7 to assist in the investigation into the misappropriation of 1MDB funds.
During today’s proceedings, Shafee informed the court that he still has to cross-examine the 46th prosecution witness, namely former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, and 1MDB’s former chief financial officer Azmi Tahir.
“My Lord, I will cross-examine both of them (Zeti and Azmi) after I question the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin,” said Shafee.
As reported last week, Nur Aida is still under quarantine after contracting Covid-19 and today’s trial was cut short after the court heard the testimony of BNM analyst Adam Ariff Mohd Roslan.
Najib, 70, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion belonging to 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial continues on January 2, 2024. – December 18, 2023