‘JHO LOW WAS IN NAJIB’S INNER CIRCLE'

''I can say this (Najib agreed) because Former special aide when Azlin double-checked, Najib said he says fugitive knew and had agreed to it.” Amhari said when he was appointed businessman worked Najib’s special officer in 2008, Low texted to congratulate him. behind the scenes for “He said: ‘Bro, I heard you are in TPM’s (deputy prime minister’s) office. ex-prime minister Congratulations. We will be closely in touch.’” Amhari claimed Low had used him to RAHMAT KHAIRULRIJAL get close to Azlin, who was also a Najib AND KHAIRAH N. KARIM loyalist. KUALA LUMPUR “He used me to set up a highly con­ [email protected] fidential meeting between him and my boss (Azlin) at Prince Hotel. HE High Court here yesterday “They discussed issues, including high­ heard that fugitive businessman ly confidential matters during the meet­ Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, had ing, which took place at night in a suite “extraordinary powers” as he room.” workedT behind the scenes for former Amhari described Low as the master- prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in mind behind the inception of the Tereng­ government-to-government negotia­ ganu Investment Authority (TIA), before tions, international relations and fund­ it was renamed 1MDB. ing. He said Low had attended the meeting Najib’s former special officer, Datuk with Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, said this Zainal Abidin at Istana Terengganu when he took the stand as the eighth in the state capital to brief him about prosecution witness in the 1Malaysia TIA. Development Bhd (1MDB) trial yester­ “I was representing PMO and Low was day. representing the TIA board. Amhari, who worked for Najib for 10 “The meeting was chaired by the state years, said Low was close to Najib’s family, ruler. especially Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah “It was an unofficial meeting and Najib Mansor. was not there,” Amhari said, adding that “My first meeting with Low was at a Low later briefed him about TIA in the restaurant in George Town, Penang, after kitchen of Low’s house. I was promoted as economic director in Amhari said Low played an active part the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in in doing damage control when the 1MDB March 2014. issue was reported by international and “Donning a batik T-shirt, Jho Low was local media. talkative and indicated that he was in the “The issue did not affect Najib as most inner circle of the former prime minister’s of the articles focused on Low’s lavish family. lifestyle. “He knew Najib through the latter’s “However, in early 2015, Najib was fi­ stepson, Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, or Riza nally linked to 1MDB. The PMO had to step Aziz, as they had known each other since in.” they were teenagers. Amhari said Low had given instructions “Rosmah had no issue with Low being to Azlin on how to cover up the issue. close to her family. Proceedings will continue today before “She had called Low numerous times, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah. although the gist of the conversations Najib is facing four charges of having were not known,” he said when reading used his position to obtain gratification his 77-page witness statement. totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and Amhari said most of the instructions 21 counts of money laundering involving from Low must be followed as they were the same money. agreed by Najib beforehand. The former finance minister is alleged “I worked for Najib for 10 years. to have committed the offences at AmIs- “He would usually meet Low to discuss lamic Bank Bhd, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chu- issues, including confidential matters. lan, Bukit Ceylon, here, between Feb 24, “Sometimes, my boss, the late Datuk 2011 and Dec 19, 2014. Azlin Alias, who was Najib’s chief special Najib is alleged to have committed officer, and I would receive confidential the money laundering offences at the instructions from Low, to which Najib had same bank between March 22 and Aug 30, agreed. 2013.