KUALA LUMPUR – Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan will testify as the 50th prosecution witness in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that Loo would be subpoenaed starting February 13, after presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered the prosecution to make the next witness available simultaneously with the current witness on the stand, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) senior supt Nur Aida Arifin.
“Loo is required to be on standby and if Nur Aida can finish her testimony that day (February 13), we will continue with the former,” he said.
Nur Aida, the 49th prosecution witness, was supposed to resume her testimony today but was absent due to illness and has been provided with a two-day medical leave certificate (MC).
On November 16 last year, the court heard testimonials from the 48th prosecution witness, Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Division Foo Wei Min, who revealed that Loo would be a vital witness to unveil all the issues surrounding Tanore Finance Corporation, an entity that transferred US$681 million into Najib’s personal bank account.
On July 7, 2023, Loo, whose testimony is highly anticipated in the 1MDB trial, surrendered herself at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.
Earlier, Dr K. Shanmuganathan from Poliklinik Primecare in Putrajaya who issued a MC to Nur Aida took the stand and confirmed that the witness is indeed unfit to testify as she is down with a fever, flu and cough.
“She is not fit to work for the next two days, if she attends the court it might spread to people,” said Dr Shanmuganathan and added the witness did not contract Covid-19 but her illness is still contagious nonetheless.
He also confirmed the discrepancy in the MC and said that he approved the amendments made to it so the MC could be used in court.
In response to this, Ahmad Akram requested the trial for today and tomorrow to be adjourned and Justice Sequerah allowed the postponement. The trial will resume on February 7.
Najib, 70, who was present in court this morning was seen together with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and his children Nooryana Najwa and Mohd Nazifuddin.
The former Pekan MP is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. – February 5, 2024