KUALA LUMPUR: Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer (CEO) told the High Court here yesterday, fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low taught him how to send a carbon-copy (c.c) to the Treasury secretary-general (KSP) for letters sent to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, said Jho Low told him in this way, writing to Najib and giving a carbon-copy to the KSP at that time, Tan Sri Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, would pressure and cause the KSP to be more involved to expedite the issuance of government guarantee (GG) for the Islamic Medium Term Notes (IMTN) bond of RM5 billion applied by Terengganu Investment Authority Berhad (TIA).
The ninth prosecution witness said the letter to Najib was prepared to state the current status on the issuance of the bond.
He said when cross-examined by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Seri Ram and when referred to a letter dated May 4 2009 from TIA addressed to Najib as Prime Minister and Finance Minister on the 11th day trial of Najib who is facing four charges of having used his positions to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
Replying to another question by Sri Ram, Shahrol Azral said the content of the letter was provided by Jho Low and was signed by him.
“Among the content of the letter was the discussion on IMTN issuance including discussions between TIA and the Finance Ministry which put up the condition that a Letter of Comfort which must earlier be provided by the Terengganu state government,” he said.
The witness also said the Finance Ministry had also raised its discomfort with the target date given by TIA for the bond issuance.
“The target date for the issuance of the bond set by TIA was about a month which was the end of May 2009 when the application was only made on April 26 2009.
“I was informed by Jho Low that the final date was to ensure the investment from Mubadala Petroleum go through.
“Jho Low also urged me to pressure the Finance Ministry. Jho Low also said he would also push via the Finance Minister top down,” he said.
Asked by Sri Ram if he understood the meaning of top down, the witness said it carried the meaning that “directive will be given from the ministry (of finance)”.
Earlier, Shahrol Azral said the first TIA board of directors meeting had to be delayed to get the attendance of Jho Low.
He said without Jho Low’s presence, the meeting could not proceed as he was an important individual as TIA advisor in the discussion on IMTN agenda.
“The meeting was held on April 15 2009 at 11.45 am at the Board Room, 38th Floor of Menara Lembaga Tabung Haji, in Jalan Tun Razak.
The meeting was held to discuss an important agenda which was to obtain the approval of the board of directors for the issuance of the IMTN bond worth RM5 billion.
“In the meeting, Jho Low was also invited to attend. I could not remember the details of what were raised by Jho Low in the meeting but generally it was related to obtaining Government Guarantee (GG),” he said.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of having used his positions to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
The Pekan MP allegedly committed the four offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Jalan Raja Chulan branch, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014, and the 21 charges, between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013, at the same place.
The trial before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today. — Bernama