KUALA LUMPUR: The former chief executive officer (CEO) of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), whose last drawn salary was RM99,000 per month, today admitted he did not have any knowledge on finance matters when he took on the job.
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi acknowledged that he had no experience for the role in 2009.
On hindsight, he said that may have been exactly why he was chosen for the job by none other than Low Taek Jho, who is widely believed to be the brains behind the 1MDB scandal.
The 49-year old who revealed that it was Low who proposed that he ask for RM80,000 as starting salary, however defended his appointment when questioned in court.
"I did not push for the job. I had no experience in fund raising.
"So, if I was not qualified, it was the people who appointed me who should've known that.
"I told this to Jho Low but I was still appointed anyway", he said, referring to Low using the latter's popular nickname.
Shahrol said this when he was cross examined by laywer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Shahrol is the ninth prosecution witness in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's trial.
Najib, 66, is facing four charges of having used his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
Shahrol, who served as 1MDB CEO from 2009 to 2013, said he made it clear to Low that he had no experience in financial matters when he was offered the job.
Asked if he had also informed this to the then Yang DiPertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin when Low took him to meet the King, Shahrol said he did not have the opportunity to talk to the Ruler.
"I was called to the Istana (palace)...I sat down and I was introduced to the Agong. There was no opportunity at all for me to say anything".
Shahrol had earlier testified that Low had taken him to meet the King at Istana Terengganu to discuss the establishment of Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) - which was tge predecessor to 1MDB, sometime in 2009.
Shahrol added that apart from the offer from Low, his appointment was decided by people in the TIA board and stakeholders from the state and federal level.
He said his expectation when offered the job was to ensure the organisation was effective in terms of "development" aspects.
Shafee: You explained you have no experience in financial matters and you told this to Jho Low. Do you think that was why Jho Low hired you, so that he could take you by the ears?
Shahrol: At that time I did not think so.
Shafee: But on hindsight, this is a possibility, correct?
Shahrol: Yes, that is a possibility.
Shafee: Jho Low also put his own people around you?
Shahrol: Yes, at that time I didn't realise such a thing was happening. Now it is quite clear.
The trial before High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.
- Additional reporting by Antara Baruah -