KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court heard that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low had shown a keen interest in the setting up of the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) when the idea was mooted in 2008.
He was also involved in early stage establishment of the sovereign wealth fund, which was later changed to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
This was revealed by prosecution witness Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin who was the former special officer of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when he was shown the cabinet’s minutes of meetings dated Dec 19, 2008.
The document was shown to Amhari by Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah during cross examination.
Amhari, 43, who attended the meeting as a secretariat, said he however could not recall taking down the minutes although he was present.
When suggested by Shafee that Low had tabled a draft proposal when TIA was mandated in 2009 and had showed interest in the idea, Amhari said he was aware of Low’s involvement from the early stages of the establishment.
When suggested that TIA was the project of Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who at that time was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Amhari said he was not aware of it.
He had also described in his testimony that TIA was the ‘baby’ of the former prime minister.
“Najib wanted to develop it when he becomes the prime minister later. For example, 1MDB and whatever policy can be described as his ‘baby’, that is something important and inspiring to him. I do not know if it was his idea,” he added.
When asked on the role of Jho Low in the meeting, Amhari said the fugitive businessman had facilitated the setting up of TIA.
Shafee: What was Jho Low’s role when he attended the meetings?
Amhari: I think his role is to facilitate TIA.
Shafee: On the last occasion (during cross-examination), someone from TIA and the Menteri Besar’s office questioned who Jho Low was?
Amhari: Yes.
Shafee: With the benefit of hindsight, you still cannot tell he was invited to represent whose interest?
Amhari: I don't know.
Shafee: Was he there to suggest the way to move forward. He was in fact there to give advice?
Amhari: He was there to facilitate whatever that needs to be done by TIA.
The witness also testified that Low was invited to the TIA steering committee meeting but he did not know whom he represented in the meeting.
Hearing continues before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of having used his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.