KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was yesterday told that the proposal to engage Goldman Sachs Global as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial consultant was from fugitive financier Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.
Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, said Jho Low proposed Goldman Sachs because the company has in-depth knowledge on 1MDB capital structure.
The ninth witness who is also an important prosecution witness said during an examination-in-chief by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram on the 15th day of trial of Najib, 66, who was accused with four counts of using his position to corruptly obtain RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same funds.
Referring to a copy of the minutes of a special IMDB board of directors (BOD) meeting on June 21 2012 held at 1MDB office in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Shahrol Azral said it was attended by among others himself, two members of the 1MDB board, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin and Tan Sri Ismee Ismail and Goldman Sachs global director, Tim Leissner.
Shahrol Azral added that the idea was mooted by Jho Low in early 2012.
In Dec 19, 2018, Malaysia filed four charges against Goldman Sachs for allegedly leaving out material facts on the sales of bonds between a subsidiary of 1MDB and Aabar Investment PJS Ltd (Aabar).
Najib, 66, faces four counts of using his position to corruptly obtain RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same funds.
The Pekan member of parliament 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 offences, at the same place between March 22, 2013 and Aug 30, 2013.
Hearing continues before justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah today. — Bernama