KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — An offshore asset recovery specialist testified in the High Court today that she could not confirm whether fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, was the “number one” figure in the alleged conspiracy involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.

Angela Barkhouse, managing director of Kroll (Cayman) Ltd and head of Kroll’s Offshore Practice, however, said that individuals who received funds would naturally be of interest to her investigation.

She was being cross-examined by Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, on the fifth day of the trial of 1MDB’s USD5.64 billion civil suit against Najib and six others, before Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Redzuan Idrus.

Muhammad Shafee asked Barkhouse whether she had come across the name of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, during the course of her investigation, to which she answered yes.

He then asked whether she agreed that Jho Low was at the centre of the controversy and the alleged conspiracy to destroy 1MDB. Barkhouse replied: “Amongst others, yes.”

When Muhammad Shafee asked whether she would rank Jho Low as the “number one” figure in the alleged conspiracy, Barkhouse replied that she was not certain.

Shafee then pressed further, pointing out that there must have been other individuals or entities she had come across during her investigation. 

In response, Barkhouse replied that those who received funds would be of interest to her.

Muhammad Shafee: By that, you are implying that it includes my client (Najib). Is that correct?

 Barkhouse answered, “That is correct”.

1MDB and its subsidiaries — 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited, formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited, filed the civil suit on May 7, 2021.

They named Najib; 1MDB’s former finance director Terrence Geh Choh Heng; former executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee; former chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh; former chief operating officer Radhi Mohamad; former investment director Kelvin Tan Kay Jim; and former chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, as defendants.

The writ of summons stated that the plaintiffs, among other things, accused the defendants of breach of trust, breach of statutory duty, abuse of power and conspiracy to misappropriate 1MDB funds.

The civil suit is being heard separately from the previous criminal proceedings against Najib. 

On December 26, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.4 billion for abuse of power and money laundering involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds.

The trial resumes tomorrow. — Bernama