Shahrol Azral transferred 1MDB money to Jho Low's company twice - Najib's lawyer
Named
02/09/2024
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi was a witness for the 1MDB case trial involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the High Court today. - Named
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told today that former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi had transferred the company's funds to Good Star Ltd, a company owned by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, twice.
Lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin who represented former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said after the first transaction of US$700 million in 2009, the second transaction involved US$330 million in 2011.
"This is the second time Shahrol Azral transferred another US$330 million of 1MDB funds to Good Star.
"If the prosecution is looking for evidence about the system at 1MDB, they need to look to their own main witness, Shahrol Azral," he said in his submissions at the end of the prosecution's case before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Previously, it was reported that US$700 million of 1MDB money was transferred to Good Star in 2009 through Shahrol Azral's instructions and a second transaction of US$330 million took place in 2011.
The US$330 million is part of PetroSaudi International Ltd's withdrawal under the Murabaha financing agreement (MFA) with 1MDB.
The MFA was signed between the two parties after ending their joint venture which involved 1MDB injecting US$1 billion in cash, with US$700 million transferred to Good Star.
In 2019, Shahrol Azral testified that he only knew Good Star was linked to Jho Low in 2015.
Najib, 71, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon, between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014.
He also faces 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount at the same bank between March 22, 2013 and August 30, 2013.
Najib was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act, and under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act .
Arguments continue Sept. 10.
-- BERNAMA
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