The Malaysian Insight

THE prosecution’s ninth witness, former 1Malaysia Development Bhd CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, today returns to the stand as Najib Razak’s trial enters its 18th day.

He will be cross-examined by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Yesterday, Shahrol testified that 1MDB intermediary Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, had to keep a low profile because Umno politicians were “envious” of his relationship with former prime minister Najib.

“There was this ‘perasaan dengki’ (envy) that people in Umno had of Jho Low’s influence and access to Najib.”

He told the court that he became suspicious of Low’s alleged criminal activities when enforcement authorities began investigating the state-backed investment fund in 2015.

The 49-year-old said he trusted Low entirely between 2009 and 2015.

Shahrol was CEO from 2009 to 2013, and remained on the 1MDB board until 2016.

Najib is on trial on four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The 66-year-old is represented by a dozen lawyers.

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram leads the prosecution before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

The Malaysian Insight brings you today’s proceedings live:

4.48pm: Court adjourns for the day.

4.30pm: They are marking documents from TIA’s director circular resolutions.

3.40pm: Shafee is asking Shahrol about TIA’s documents and accounts.

Justice Sequerah cuts in and asks for the point of the questions. Shafee says he is trying to establish the exact moment when the Terengganu government and the federal government had fallen out over TIA.

3.21pm: Shafee asks Shahrol if he ever met Najib prior to his appointment at TIA.

Shahrol says no.

Shafee: You agree that Najib never appointed you as CEO?

Shahrol: Yes, initially.

3.08pm: Shahrol returns to the stand.

1pm: Court is in recess.

12.30pm: The court is going through documents related to TIA formation.

11.42am: Shafee asks about Najib’s involvement of the initial stages of the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).

11.30am: Court is in session.

10.55am: Court is in recess.

10.08am: Shafee suggests Low knew the Terengganu sultan way before Najib knew of him.

Shahrol says in retrospect, he knows.

10.07am: Shahrol says Terengganu palace officials had questioned Low’s position. He says the relationship between the royalty and Low had soured.

10.02am: Shafee tells Shahrol that Low was not the only person involved – Casey Tang, Terence Geh and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil were involved so Low could be in control.

Shahrol: I didn’t know that this was done. I saw him as sincerely representing Najib.

10.01am: “You are not one of those who are not ambitious. It’s a good thing if you are not one of those. I don’t know why you’re taking so long to answer,” says Shafee.

Shahrol: Yes, I’m not one of those.

Shafee: In your statement, you said you wanted to advance your career to a higher level. Whatever your definition – Oxford or Dwibahasa – you still have ambition.

Shahrol agrees.

Shafee: Do you think the reason you knew nothing about finances was why Low approached you? So he could handle the finances?

Shahrol: At the time, I didn’t think so, but there is a possibility.

9.55am: Shahrol says he never pushed for the job, and was given it by the Terengganu sultan. He says he told Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, that he had no experience raising funds.

“I never asked for the job. It was given to me by the Terengganu sultan.”

Shafee: Now, we come to the word “ambitious”. Surely you are ambitious to come up in the corporate world.

Shahrol: The Oxford dictionary’s definition of ‘ambitious’ is to succeed at something. If you are saying that I tried to hide my ability to raise funds, then that is not right.

9.51am: Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asks former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi about his role in raising funds for the state investor when he served as chief executive.

9.42am: Court is in session. – October 8, 2019.