KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today was told that the fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low had wanted four letters from a Saudi Arabian prince purportedly promising donations to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to be kept away from the public.
Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 51, a former relationship manager at AmBank confirmed the matter when she was shown a transcript of Blackberry Messenger (BBM) messages dated June 23, 2014, by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram at the former premier's corruption and money laundering trial involving RM2.3 billion belonging to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Based on the conversation, Jho Low had purportedly told her that Najib had instructed that the "gift letters" from Prince Faisal Turki Al Saud were not to be made public.
When asked by Sri Ram what she understood from the message, Yu answered that the letters were to confirm that the funds coming into Najib's account were the result of the alleged Arab donations.
Sri Ram: What was the purpose of the messages?
Yu: That it was supposed to be treated as confidential.
During today's proceedings, Yu also confirmed that whenever Najib's bank account was overdrawn in funds, she would inform either Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil (mandate holder) or Jho Low as Najib's cheques would bounce if there was no money in the account.
She said an individual known as Kee Kok Thiam would then deposit cash into Najib's account, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands, just to ensure that the cheques do not bounce.
When asked if the bank would dishonour the cheques in such a situation, Yu said:
"It's a prime minister's account, so we would chase for funds...so that the cheques do not bounce."
She also testified that Najib is the sole signatory for the cheques from his account and that Nik Faisal does not have the authority to issue the cheques on Najib's behalf.
Najib, 69, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion belonging to 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Nov 07 2022
The High Court today was told that the fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low had wanted four letters from a Saudi Arabian prince purportedly promising donations to Najib Razak to be kept away from the public. - BERNAMA
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia untuk lawatan rasmi, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan tiba di Jakarta pada Ahad untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
'Tersentuh tengok golongan OKU penglihatan tunai umrah’ - Mohd Na’im
"Moga terkabul segala hajat sahabat-sahabat OKU penglihatan menunaikan ibadat umrah dan ziarah."
PM Anwar yakin terhadap IsDB dalam tangani ketidaksamaan, marginalisasi umat Islam
Bank itu mempunyai peranan untuk menangani isu ketidakadilan, ketidaksamaan dan marginalisasi terutamanya dalam kalangan umat Islam.
Harumanis antara tarikan utama Agrofiesta 2024
Mangga harumanis dan produk makanan berasaskan mangga antara tarikan utama pada penganjuran Agrofiesta 2024.
NIOSH sedia beri khidmat nasihat depani cabaran perubahan iklim
NIOSH bersedia memberikan khidmat nasihat serta rundingan bagi membantu kerajaan, majikan dan pekerja menghadapi cabaran berkaitan perubahan iklim.
Malaysia negara pertama terima visa haji
Malaysia menjadi negara pertama yang menerima pengeluaran visa haji daripada Kementerian Haji dan Umrah Arab Saudi bagi jemaah musim haji 1445H/2024.
Menteri Indonesia bincang isu pekerja migran dengan rakan sejawat dari Malaysia
Fauziyah harap Steven akan membawa penambahbaikan kepada dasar berkaitan tenaga kerja Indonesia.
Pahang peruntuk RM1.5 juta bantuan tunai bakal jemaah haji
Sebanyak 1,588 jemaah haji Pahang menerima sumbangan 'duit poket' berjumlah RM750 seorang bagi membantu meringankan beban bakal haji dalam melakukan persiapan melaksanakan rukun Islam kelima itu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pengundi jangan mudah percaya taktik fitnah - Ramanan
Ramanan berkata pengundi perlu lebih berhati-hati, dan sentiasa menyemak fakta apabila mendengar kempen politik yang dilakukan pihak lawan.
KEDA berhasrat tanam padi wangi, padi huma tahun ini
Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) berhasrat membangunkan tanaman padi wangi dan padi huma di beberapa kawasan pertanian dalam wilayahnya, tahun ini.