In the ongoing trial over the misappropriation of 1MDB funds, former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak allegedly failed to disclose RM3.6 billion that entered his personal AmBank accounts to his Cabinet, according to an investigator from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). MACC Senior Superintendent Nur Aida Arifin, the 49th prosecution witness, linked the funds in Najib’s accounts to 1MDB’s investment money.
Nur Aida revealed that Najib never informed the Cabinet about the substantial funds entering his AmPrivate Banking-MR 2112022009694 and AmPrivate Banking-1MY 2112022011880 accounts. The investigator stated that the money in these accounts, received from 1MDB funds for investment purposes, totaled RM3.6 billion between 2011 and 2014.
Furthermore, Nur Aida highlighted 526 transactions during this period, involving expenditures through cheques signed by Najib for various purposes, including payments for his AmBank credit cards. Despite having control over his accounts, Najib allegedly never questioned the source of the funds or raised concerns with AmBank.
The investigator also disclosed that then 1MDB chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil managed Najib’s account, and the now-fugitive Low Taek Jho dealt with Joanna Yu, AmBank’s relationship manager for Najib’s accounts. However, Najib, as the account owner, retained access and control.
Nur Aida testified that former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz revealed Najib’s attempt in July 2015 to obtain a statement clearing any wrongdoing related to the funds. The testimony further detailed the dissolution of a multi-agency task force investigating 1MDB by Najib on July 27, 2015.
During January 5, 2016, to July 29, 2016, while prime minister, Najib allegedly took actions affecting the investigation. The investigator indicated her intention to present nine audio recordings obtained during her probe. Additionally, Nur Aida emphasized that 1MDB, formed to invest in strategic projects for Malaysia’s economy, resulted in losses for both 1MDB and the nation.
In response, Najib’s legal team did not object to Nur Aida’s testimony, with both the prosecution and defense reviewing and amending it beforehand. The trial is set to resume with further confirmation of documentary evidence and testimony on the following Monday.
Young Sok Fun is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
