KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had not asked his staff to lodge complaints to the police or anti-corruption authorities over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) from 2015 onwards when the scandal was heavily reported on, the High Court heard today.
Najib's former special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin confirmed this, after noting how the prime minister's office had came under heavy attacks over 1MDB in 2015.
Lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram had asked him: “At any point of time, did you receive instructions, between 2015 and 2018, did you receive any instructions from the accused to lodge a police report in relation to 1MDB?”
“No,” Amhari replied.
Amhari confirmed that he was also not told by Najib to lodge a complaint to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over 1MDB.
Amhari is the eighth prosecution witness testifying against Najib in the latter's corruption trial over 1MDB funds. The trial is now in its 11th day.
Earlier today, Amhari explained why he thought his immediate superior, the late Datuk Azlin Alias' outburst in early 2015 of “Duit 1MDB lah bro” (1MDB money lah bro) was linked to Najib and 1MDB.
Amhari said Azlin ― who was Najib's principal private secretary ― likely exclaimed “Duit 1MDB lah bro” around January or February 2015, basing the timing on Azlin's April 2015 death in a helicopter accident.
As for why he linked the phrase as a reference to Najib and the 1MDB issue, Amhari noted that many articles and documents and alleged proof of the misuse of 1MDB funds were released in late 2014 and in 2015.
“In the year 2015, it can be said that the office and Datuk Seri Najib received so much attacks on the 1MDB issue. We in the office decided to defend because we believe it is a conspiracy against the prime minister,” he said.
Amhari noted that management meetings at the Prime Minister's Office then saw the issues relating to 1MDB being raised but not discussed in detail.
Amhari said the issues included the alleged misuse of 1MDB funds in the joint venture with PetroSaudi, businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low's luxurious lifestyle, and Hollywood film Wolf of Wall Street produced by Najib's stepson Riza Aziz's firm said to be funded by 1MDB money.
“When Datuk Azlin came down from Najib's office and I was in his (Azlin's office), he then said “Duit 1MDB bro” and at that time, to my knowledge, no issues are hotter than the issue of 1MDB money having been misused and at that time the issue revolved around Wolf of Wall Street and PetroSaudi money.”
“Based on that, I can say that 'Duit 1MDB bro' at that time refers to the problem that was the hottest and most difficult at that time, which is Wolf of Wall Street and PetroSaudi 1MDB,” he said.
Amhari today also confirmed that he did not have any doubts — during his time as an officer in the Prime Minister's Office — regarding Low's claim to be close to Najib, as Najib had on multiple occasions confirmed instructions given by Low.
Najib's ongoing 1MDB trial involves 25 criminal charges — four counts of abusing his position for his own financial benefit totalling almost RM2.3 billion allegedly originating from 1MDB and the resulting 21 counts of money-laundering.
