Jasmine Loo may be called to testify in Najib’s 1MDB trial

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial plans to call four additional witnesses, including former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan (pic), according to the High Court.

The witnesses identified by the prosecution include Bank Negara Malaysia’s analysts, two investigating officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and the police.

The trial judge, Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah, inquired about the number of witnesses the prosecution intends to summon once the current witness, former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, completes her testimony.

On July 12, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that Loo was arrested on July 7 by the police to aid in the investigation into the misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, expressed his desire to postpone cross-examining Zeti during today’s court session on August 29.

He made this request after Zeti revealed that she had met former AmBank group managing director Ashok Ramamurthy once, as he took over the position when Ashok was introduced to her by Cheah Tek Kuang during a courtesy call.

Zeti denied Muhammad Shafee’s claims that Ashok had sent her updates on Najib’s account.

She reiterated her previous testimony, stating that during their initial meeting in 2011, she informed Cheah that any matters related to Najib’s account should be directed to the then BNM deputy governor.

Muhammad Shafee then submitted an application to Justice Sequerah, requesting access to an alleged statement that the MACC had recorded from Ashok in Singapore.

The counsel further stated that he would like to conclude the cross-examination of Zeti at that point, pending the outcome of his application.

“My Lord, I would like to question the investigating officer about this alleged statement. I also wish to recall Cheah,” he stated.

In response, Ahmad Akram intervened, claiming to have no knowledge of any statement from Ashok, either formally or informally, as Ashok was not among the witnesses considered by the prosecution prior to the charges in this trial.

Consequently, the judge instructed Zeti to return to the court at a later date.

Najib, aged 70, is facing charges of using his position to obtain bribes totaling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB, as well as 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The trial will resume on August 30. – Bernama