Defence Highlights Former 1MDB CEO's Dual Role In Court Testimony

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The defence team of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today told the High Court that it was ‘amazing’ how former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer Datuk Sharol Azral Ibrahim Halmi could effortlessly switch between ‘two masks’ in his testimony.

Najib’s counsel, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, submitted that the ‘two masks’ referred to Sharol Azral’s alleged roles — one as the main suspect in Low Taek Jho or Jho Low’s criminal scheme as 1MDB’s CEO, and the other as the supposedly unsuspecting director of 1MDB who was purportedly unaware of his own plan.

“It is even more imperative to note that when Shahrol Azral was cross-examined by the defence, several significant admissions emerged from his testimony, including that he was informed in advance by Jho Low that the proposal letter would come from Aabar (Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund Aabar Investments PJSC).

“He did not personally contact the designated liaison, Tam Cheok Wing and instead delegated the task to either the Real Estate Team or Investment Team (unspecified individuals to this day) to obtain further details. It never occurred to him to find out who Tam Cheok Wing was.

“Shahrol Azral also admitted he never had any direct contact with Mohammed Badawy Al-Husseiny and had left Jho Low, his friend, to act as the main orchestrator and coordinator with Aabar. 

“He further stated that he was not concerned that the letter could have been drafted by Jho Low, asserting that ‘it didn’t really matter to me, if it did’.

“Based on these admissions, we would be deluding ourselves to dismiss the notion that Shahrol Azral was in lockstep with Jho Low.  

“Between his unauthorised transfer of billions to Jho Low, his secret correspondence with Jho Low, and his continuing defiance of the Board of Directors’ instructions, there is a plethora of reasons to doubt anything that comes out of his mouth,” the lawyer said. 

Today marked the fifth day of oral submissions by the defence before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, in a case where Najib faces a total of 25 charges involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB’s funds. 

On May 6, Najib’s defence concluded its case after calling 26 witnesses, and the court set nine days starting Oct 21 for oral submissions.

Najib, 72, faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds as gratification at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

He was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The former Pekan MP is also accused of 21 counts of money laundering, allegedly committed at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

These charges were brought under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million and imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.  

Najib is currently serving a jail term in Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. 

The hearing continues tomorrow. 

-- BERNAMA