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THE prosecution in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's trial for the alleged misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds contended all key witnesses can be deemed as credible.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib made this assertion to support the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses after Najib's defence team claimed that most of them were unreliable.
"The defence submitted that the credibility of most of our witnesses cannot be believed because they were either corrupt, they have an axe to grind, or they are trying to save their skin," he said.
Ahmad Akram said Najib’s former aide, Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, and former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo had testified to receiving something from fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low.
"Can they be blamed? Both believed that they were acting on the instructions of Low and Najib’s principal private secretary, Azlin Alias, for the benefit of Najib and the nation, he said in submissions at the close of the prosecution’s case at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Ahmad Akram said despite not holding any official position in 1MDB, Jho Low had a significant presence in influencing the orchestration of 1MDB's operations and was seen to be a mirror image of Najib.
Akram said former CEO of 1MDB Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, who was accused of having exceeded his authority, did what he was instructed to do as he had the backing of heavyweight Najib.
He was responding to submissions advanced by the defence that the testimony of key witnesses, including former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Shahrol, Amhari and Loo, ought to be disregarded as they lacked credibility.
The prosecutor also addressed Low's role, noting that although he did not hold any official position at 1MDB, he had a significant influence over the top management's decision-making processes.
In its opening statement, the prosecution claimed that Najib had been in cahoots with Low to steal millions of ringgit from 1MDB. The prosecution also described Low as Najib’s mirror image.
Najib, 71, faces four charges of abusing his position to obtain RM2.3bil from 1MDB funds at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on 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 Aug 30, 2013.
Najib is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act. - October 2, 2024