KUALA LUMPUR – Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive officer told the high court here today that its board of directors were involved in a “sandiwara” (stage play) to conceal the fact that overseas funds belonged to Umno.
Tenth prosecution witness Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman said this when cross-examined by Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s lawyer, Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed, in the former premier’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.
When asked why he did not put on record during a 1MDB board meeting on February 27, 2014, that the overseas funds supposedly belonged to Umno, the witness said “this was a scheme and this was not supposed to be put on record”.
Wan Aizuddin: You claim this is a conspiracy that all the board members participated in?
Hazem: Yes.
Wan Aizuddin: You are saying that whatever was reported in the minutes are just for show?
Hazem: They knew what was at stake.
Wan Aizuddin: So, you are saying that, whatever that was recorded in the minutes of the board meeting (to bring back the funds from overseas), it is all for show? Are you saying all this was a big sandiwara?
Hazem: Yes.
The 49-year-old witness also agreed with the lawyer’s suggestion that none of the money that was repatriated from overseas went into Umno’s bank account.
To another question, Hazem told the court that he had never heard Najib say that 1MDB’s overseas funds belonged to Umno, but only based his knowledge on what was said by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, and Najib’s former principal private secretary, Datuk Azlin Alias (now deceased).
He said based on the minutes of meeting, the company shareholder (Najib) had intentions to bring back the overseas money to Malaysia.
On January 6, this year, Hazem testified that 1MDB was set up for the benefit of Umno, as was conveyed to him by Jho Low.
Najib, 67, who underwent eye surgery last week, was seen wearing black spectacles while sitting in the dock.
Najib faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues. – Bernama, May 27, 2021
