The Malaysian Insight

EVERY instruction from Low Taek Jho to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) senior management is an instruction from Najib Razak, a former 1MDB chief finance officer (CFO) testified today.

Azmi Tahir, the 12th prosecution witness in the former prime minister’s 1MDB-Tanore trial, said fugitive businessman Jho Low was Najib’s trusted person and adviser.

The 48-year-old said on the first day of his job in 1MDB on June 1, 2012, he was already told by Low in a one-to-one meeting that the latter’s instructions were mandates from Najib.

Azmi said he later confirmed with Najib’s former principal private secretary, Azlin Alias, who agreed.  

“The officers in this system were forced to follow Low’s instructions because every instruction from him is an instruction from Najib,” Azmi testified at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“And this is in line with Article 117 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of 1MDB company because every important decision must be under the direction and approval of the prime minister.

“Najib is the person who has the ultimate power in making any decision, especially involving investments, financial decisions and national interest.”

Azmi also said that as CFO, he was part of a secret circle arranged by Low with the “blessings” of Najib.

“Certain individuals were selected and organised in the top management of 1MDB and board of directors to ensure that actions and instructions from behind (Low and Najib) are implemented.  

“It was a ‘work in silo’ system, and these instructions were only known to the people in the system through the coordination of Low and Azlin.

“I will receive instructions from them in the form of a mandate from Najib as prime minister,” he said.

Azmi said those in the circle, aside from himself, were then chief operating officer Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, former chief executive officer Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh, former general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, and former deputy CFO Terence Geh Choh Heng.  

“As for the board of directors, I know they have all dealt with Low, but I don’t know if they are in the ‘work in silo’ system.

“Low told me that all assignments are on a need-to-know basis.

“We will only be told of orders and actions based on the scope of our assignments or as far as we need to know only,” Azmi said.

Najib, 68, is facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

The Pekan MP faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The trial continues before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah. – November 11, 2021.