1MDB trial: Najib's ex-special officer shocked to see RM3.36mil in bank account
NATION
Wednesday, 04 Sep 20196:16 PM MYT
By NURBAITI HAMDAN and ROYCE TAN
image: https://apicms.thestar.com.my/uploads/images/2019/09/04/252198.jpg
KUALA LUMPUR: A former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Razak was shocked when he found out that more than USD$800,000 (RM3.36mil) was banked into his foreign bank account.
Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, 43, testified that he received a phone call from BSI Switzerland in early 2016, informing him of the matter.
“The officer who called me asked whether I knew about my bank balance and I said I did not know.
“The officer then told me that there was more than USD$800,000 in my account. I was so shocked, as I had no clue about the money, ” he told the High Court at the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial here on Wednesday (Sept 4).
At a later time, Amhari was contacted again by BSI Bank, who informed him that his relationship with the bank would be terminated and he needed to move the money to either a company under his name, or another bank account of his.
(Amhari had opened the account with BSI in Singapore upon instructions by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or better known as Jho Low.
During a meeting in 2012, Jho Low instructed both Amhari and the late principal private secretary to Najib, Datuk Seri Azlin Alias, to open bank accounts overseas under their names for Najib’s political purposes.)
“I referred the matter to Jho Low, who instructed me to open an account with Kasikorn Bank in Bangkok, ” he said.
The process to open the account was assisted by a Thai, who was Jho Low’s acquaintance.
“The acquaintance was not a bank officer and I do not remember his name. The name was on the application form and listed as an ‘introducer’, ” Amhari added.
The witness said bank applications in Bangkok would have taken time, usually less than a month, but his Bangkok bank account was successfully opened right then.
The money transfer to Kasikorn, however, was unsuccessful.
“BSI informed me that the matter was delayed and a bank officer would get in touch with me if there was any update. I told Jho Low about this and he said he would resolve it on my behalf.
“Until now, I do not know what happened with the money in the account, ” he added.
Amhari said he had never withdrew the money for personal use or transferred it elsewhere.
“The account was managed and controlled fully by Jho Low for political funds as he had mentioned, ” he said.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Thursday (Sept 5).
Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is expected to conduct his cross-examination on the witness.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of having used his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3bil from 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
He faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/04/1mdb-trial-najib039s-ex-special-officer-shocked-to-see-rm336mil-in-bank-account#
'Boss will take care', Jho Low told Najib's aides in push to open S'pore accounts
NATION
Wednesday, 04 Sep 201912:13 PM MYT
By ROYCE TAN and NURBAITI HAMDAN
image: https://apicms.thestar.com.my/uploads/images/2019/09/04/251454.jpg
KUALA LUMPUR: "Boss will take care" – these were the exact words used by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho to convince two of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak's aides to open bank accounts in foreign countries.
The accounts with BSI Bank in Singapore that he asked them to open were meant to be "standby accounts" for Najib's political funds for the 13th General Election, the High Court here heard on Wednesday (Sept 4).
In 2012, Low sent Najib's former special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin and the late Datuk Seri Azlin Alias, who was Najib's principal private secretary, to Singapore where he had arranged for the setting up of the accounts to be held in a hotel room.
This was handled by one Yvonne from BSI Bank and another unknown officer.
It took Low several meetings to convince Azlin to proceed with it, as the latter was uncomfortable with the arrangement.
Both Azlin and Amhari were afraid that the accounts under their names would be used for money laundering.
"Jho said that if there are to be any queries about the account, Najib will protect us.
"Azlin became uncomfortable when Jho said everything will be done 'above board' with the right process and documentations and with a reputable bank," Amhari told the High Court here on the fourth day of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
"Azlin told me that we have to follow his instructions or we might lose our jobs or our family might be harmed now that we know about the plan," Amhari said.
While Azlin's application was approved, Amhari's application was rejected.
In a subsequent meeting with Low, Amhari said he found it strange that his account was suddenly approved even without any follow-up action.
Both Amhari and Azlin were not allowed to use the accounts as the accounts were controlled and handled by Low.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of having used his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3bil from 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
He faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/04/039boss-will-take-care039-jho-low-told-najib039s-aides-in-push-to-open-s039pore-accounts#rJTfSz6CMhkBTfdP.99
