Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) director Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin has testified that Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, was present in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s New York hotel suite in November 2009. However, he maintained that Low did not participate in Najib’s meeting with Goldman Sachs executives and that there was nothing suspicious about the gathering.
During the trial at the High Court, Lodin confirmed that while Najib was engaged in discussions with Goldman Sachs’ then-CEO Lloyd Craig Blankfein and former banker Tim Leissner, Low remained in a separate section of the suite.
"Yes, Jho Low was in the suite, but he did not participate in the discussion and was in the other room during the discussion between Datuk Seri Najib and Lloyd Blankfein," Lodin stated while testifying as the 12th defense witness in Najib’s RM2 billion 1MDB trial (source).
Najib’s defense lawyer, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, questioned Lodin on whether there was anything inappropriate about Najib meeting Goldman Sachs representatives, given that 1MDB was already a client of the bank.
"No, the meeting was neither unusual nor sinister. From my understanding, it was part of a broader effort to engage foreign investors and promote Malaysia as an investment destination," Lodin responded (source).
The meeting took place as part of Najib’s official visit to New York, and Lodin emphasized that only two 1MDB representatives—himself and then-CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi—were present in the suite. Lodin said he had traveled to New York at Shahrol’s request, understanding that Najib intended to meet with foreign investors.
When asked whether Najib made any commitments to Goldman Sachs for future deals involving 1MDB, Lodin replied that there were no such indications. He also stated that Najib did not direct 1MDB’s board or management to approve any transactions with the investment bank.
Lodin reiterated that Najib issued no instructions for 1MDB to work exclusively with Goldman Sachs following the meeting. He clarified that the board did not receive any directives to approve deals, including those involving 1MDB’s subsidiaries, such as 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy Langat Limited, and 1MDB Global Investment Limited (source).
Najib himself has previously testified in court that there was nothing questionable about his meeting with Goldman Sachs in 2009. He asserted that he did not personally invite Low to the gathering and claimed that Low’s presence was due to a common practice of individuals wanting to be seen accompanying the prime minister.
According to Najib, Low did not participate in the discussions and was positioned at the far end of the room throughout the meeting (source).
Information Source: Malay Mail
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