KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low was desperate to stop cheques issued by Datuk Seri Najib Razak from bouncing, the High Court heard today.
Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said this was to stop the former prime minister from opening the 'pandoras box' about the state of his three accounts in Ambank.
He said this in his cross-examination with Najib's former relationship manager in Ambank, Joanna Yu Gin Ping, in Najib's corruption trial for allegedly misappropriating billions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.
Earlier, Shafee said Low had told Yu several times via a BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to ensure cheques issued from Najib's accounts would not bounce.
Yu, who agreed with the contention said she complied with Low's directive as it would be an embarrassment for the (then) prime minister to have his cheques to bounce.
Earlier, the court had heard how Najib's accounts were constantly overdrawn, often forcing Yu to contact Low or account mandate holder Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil to resolve the issue.
Shafee: I put to you, lets say once the cheque bounced, Najib would have opened the pandora box about the state of his account.
Yu: Yes.
Shafee: Do you agree with me, it would at least cause Najib to make some enquiry and ask Nik Faisal to explain.
Yu: Yes.
Shafee: Assuming the cheque bounced, what would the bank do?
Yu: We close that account.
Shafee: Do you agree with me, if any customer has appointed someone as mandate holder, if anything goes well, a person in the position of prime minister would have little time to go through his statement?
Yu: Yes. I would assume the mandate holder would pass it on.
Earlier, Yu said she did not expect someone would use the former prime minister's account for money laundering.
The former banker admitted that she did not consult Najib in handling his account and dealt with Low instead.
Yu said she had no doubt that the fugitive businessman was in contact with the account holder as he was the one who opened Najib's account at the bank.
Najib, 70, 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.