KUALA LUMPUR – Former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu Ging Ping, who handled accounts belonging to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, today stressed that late-night text messages between her and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, were not to their benefits, the high court heard today.
Testifying against Najib in his 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) main trial, Yu stressed that the late-night chats done through BlackBerry messenger with Low were often to discuss money transactions into Najib’s personal account.
This included an exchange between her and Low in August 2014 discussing whether there were enough funds in one of Najib’s personal Ambank accounts as the former prime minister had issued a RM5 million cheque to Umno at the time.
In the exchanges that started between 12am and early morning the next day, Low had informed Yu to move funds from another account to ensure there were enough monies so that the cheque issued to Umno would not bounce.
Under re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Wan Ahmad Akram Gharib, Yu clarified that her late-night interactions with Low were not done for their benefit.
“These late-night conversations with Jho Low, who ultimately benefits from these interactions?” asked Akram.
“Umno. I was to make sure that there were enough funds in the account so that the cheque issued to Umno would not bounce,” Yu replied.
Earlier in the day, Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah had grilled Yu on her alleged “inappropriate” relationship with Low as they both had often exchanged messages in the late hours.
Shafee even questioned Yu about the need to visit Low at his apartment in Jalan Kia Peng after working hours.
Yu explained that she only visited Low for work purposes and has “never been alone” with Low in his apartment.
The former Ambank manager also explained that she had also seen other 1MDB officials such as chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, executive director of finance Terence Geh Cho Heng, general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan and chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.
In previous testimony, Yu had even offered soup to Low, leading to Shafee questioning her objectivity and professional conduct as a banker.
Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to get bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 money laundering charges.
The trial continues later today. – The Vibes, February 8, 2023
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