KUALA LUMPUR: A former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer said he could tell from the body language of both Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low that they were ‘positive and very comfortable’ with each other.
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, who was testifying as the ninth prosecution witness in the 1MDB trial of the former prime minister yesterday, said it was based on his observation on numerous occasions when Jho Low was at Najib’s house.
Jho Low, he said, was not only familiar with the layout of Najib’s home but also with the accused’s family members from the way he talked about them.
However, when asked by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram on the 16th day of the trial, on whether he had attended any event in which Jho Low and Najib’s family were present, he replied, ‘No’.
Sri Ram: How many times had you seen the accused in his home? Less than 100? Shahrol Azral: If i’m not mistaken, less than 20 times.
Sri Ram: On each of those occasions, was Jho Low present at the accused’s house? Shahrol Azral: Jho Low was present on a number of occasions, but definitely not all.
Najib, 66, faces four charges of using his position to 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 Branch, Jalan Raja Chulan branch, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014, and the 21 charges, at the same place between March 22, 2013 and Aug 30, 2013.
The hearing before High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues Monday. — Bernama