KUALA LUMPUR: A key witness in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption trial today described how fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, tried to conceal the former's "big boss" identity when millions were remitted into his accounts.
Joanna Yu Ging Ping, Najib's former relationship manager at AmBank, said Low used multiple "codenames" to describe Najib, including "Optimus Prime" and "big boss".
The former prime minister's accounts at the bank were so discreet to the extent that the bank had codenamed them as "AmPrivate Banking-MR" to avoid any information leakage.
Low also codenamed monies coming into Najib's account as "American pie" and "purple dragon" when communicating with Yu via BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) messages.
The 51-year-old banker said Low also instructed that the four letters that Najib received, purportedly from the Saudi monarch to show that the monies were donations, were to be kept classified.
Yu was testifying as the 41st prosecution witness in Najib's corruption and money laundering trial involving RM2.3 billion belonging to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD).
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram referred Yu to a series of messages between her and Low on May 30, 2014.
In them, Yu had said she would deal with Low and former SRC International Bhd chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil over Najib's personal account.
She added that Low had informed her that "15 American pies incoming".
Sri Ram: American pies were code for American dollars?
Yu: Yes.
Sri Ram: Did those monies come?
Yu: I cannot remember.
Sri Ram: There is a message from you to Low reading: "Can you do GBP?"
Yu: Yes.
Sri Ram: What does that mean?
Yu: It was a question whether the transaction could be done in pound sterling.
Sri Ram: You said, "pies may have problem". Why?
Yu: Yes. We were told we were not allowed to give that information to anybody... He (Low) wanted more confidentiality on the account.
Yu said another codename, "purple dragon", was also mentioned in the chat, although she did not know who or what that alluded to.
The messages were deprived of more details.
In a separate matter, Yu confirmed that Low had instructed that the four "Saudi Monarch" letters to Najib be classified as "confidential".
Sri Ram read out a series of BBM messages by Low saying Najib did not want the said letters to be given to anyone, including Bank Negara Malaysia.
Sri Ram: Low said the letters were only for the former AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang to show to the then Bank Negara governor?
Yu: The letters were supposed to be treated as confidential.
Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.