KUALA LUMPUR – Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi was “disrespectful” towards government officials from Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc), even though they had requested for complete documentation from the sovereign wealth fund, the high court heard today.
Shahrol’s treatment of the officials was in spite of the fact that 1MDB falls under the jurisdiction of MoF Inc, said former Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy) Datuk Siti Zauyah Mohd Desa during Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial today.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Zauyah explained that despite repeated attempts to collect the necessary information back in 2009, Shahrol refused to cooperate.
Zauyah said she had even complained about the matter to then finance minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah and then treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, but no action was taken.
When asked whether Shahrol was “rude” in his demeanour with MoF Inc, Zauyah disagreed with Shafee’s choice of words but later agreed that the former 1MDB chief executive was “disrespectful”.
Shafee then posited that because she did not receive complete documentation from Shahrol, she could not safely deduce that Najib had instructed Shahrol to act in such a manner.
Zauyah, however, did not respond to the question.
Shafee then questioned whether Shahrol in his capacity as 1MDB chief executive had provided the necessary financial documents to MoF Inc, to which Zauyah answered in the negative.
Earlier in the day, Zauyah had denied having prior knowledge of her testimony to the court as it was not prepared in her presence and was given at the “last minute”.
This came after Shafee had told the court that Zauyah has no value to the defence and the prosecution after she had failed to answer basic questions on her official role managing companies under MoF Inc.
In June, Zauyah testified that 1MDB had not consulted her division, MoF Inc, in 2009 over the preparation of its memorandum and articles of association, which included provisions to give Najib, the prime minister at the time, the power to approve the appointments of directors, senior management team members, and matters relating to financial commitments.
In the 1MDB-Tanore trial, Najib is charged with four counts of abuse of power in enriching himself with RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds, and 21 counts of money laundering of the same amount.
The case presided by Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah will resume on September 5. – The Vibes, August 25, 2022
