Najib’s lawyer says 1MDB witness not charged due to deal with prosecution
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NAJIB Razak’s lawyer claimed today that former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief financial officer Azmi Tahir was not charged with any offence because he had cut a deal with the prosecution.
Tania Scivetti said in the Kuala Lumpur High Court during Najib’s RM2.28 billion corruption trial involving 1MDB funds that several ex-company officials had been charged but not Azmi.
Neither had prosecution witnesses, former chief executive officer Shahrol Halmi and former chief operating officer Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman been charged, she added.
She also said 16 directors from Goldman Sachs had also been charged.
“Shahrol, you and Hazem were not charged. I put it to you that you were not charged because you provided evidence against Najib,” Scvetti said.
In response, Azmi said he was not sure.
When Scivetti pressed him for an answer, Azmi said he did not agree with her suggestion.
During his testimony, Azmi said that Low Taek Jho had played a role in the issuance of US$1.75 billion (RM7.35 billion) bonds for 1MDB’s purchase of Mastika Lagenda, which held a 75% stake in Genting Sanyen Power Sdn Bhd.
Jasmine Loo, who was 1MDB’s legal officer and Terence Geh, who was the company’s director of finance, also took instructions from Low when it came to the fundraising, Azmi said.
“You agree that despite you being a director of 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd, and you signing the arranger agreement, you were not charged?” the lawyer asked Azmi.
Azmi agreed that neither he nor Shahrol was charged.
Scivetti then said that for their part in raising the funds, Loo, Geh, Low and Tim Leissner from Goldman Sachs were all charged, and yet, Azmi “somehow wasn’t”.
Earlier, Scivetti suggested that Azmi took bribes from Leissner, who was ex-Goldman Sachs Southeast Asia chairman, for the hefty sum paid to the bank to arrange 1MDB bonds. Azmi also denied this.
Najib is standing trial for graft involving RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds. He faces 25 charges – four for abuse of power and 21 for money-laundering – for offences committed between 2011 and 2013.
The case is being heard before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah. The trial will continue in March. – January 27, 2022.