KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) former general-counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan's role in the global-scale financial scandal became the main highlight in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption trial today.
Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah suggested the former lawyer could be the main witness in either nailing Najib in his coffin and burying him further or proving his client's innocence.
The senior lawyer further disclosed that, during her five years of being absconded, Loo maintained constant contact with the fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, a fact acknowledged by the investigating officer ACP Foo Wei Min.
Foo, who is the police Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Division assistant director also agreed that the duo along with former 1MDB top brass, met in China five years ago.
The senior policeman said he obtained this information during his investigation against Loo as part of his investigation to recover 1MDB assets.
Loo, who became a fugitive after the fall of the Barisan Nasional-led government during the 14th General Election in 2018, is now under police witness protection after she was arrested on July 23 this year.
Shafee: Do you know the identity of former 1MDB officers in the meeting in China?
Foo: I do not know. Just 1MDB officers.
Shafee: I know. Azmi Tahir (Former 1MDB chief financial officer and 12th prosecution witness) was there. He came here and pretended to be innocent.
Foo: I am not sure.
Shafee: Do you know Low and Loo were as thick as thieves. They were very close.
Foo: Loo was Low's personal assistant. Wherever he (Low) goes, she will follow and arrange meetings for Low.
Shafee: She also handles legal documents for Low to make what appears illegal into a legal form.
Foo: According to her statement, she denied it. She claimed to have very limited access to legal documents.
Earlier, Shafee contended that Foo's investigation against his client was biased and jaundiced, which Foo disagreed with.
Shafee further asserted that Foo failed to question Najib about the four letters purportedly from the Saudi Royalties to his client, intended to inform him about the incoming donations.
In his defence, Foo said he tried to contact the Saudi royalties to verify the authenticity of the letters, but to no avail.
"There was no response, and they were not willing to cooperate with us.
"We have the money trial. We ascertained that the money from Tanore was not from Saudi.
"It was from 1MDB, and it was enough for our investigations," he said.
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.
Hearing before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.