Justo claims he was told to say Najib was a ‘good PM’

KUALA LUMPUR: Swiss whistleblower Xavier Justo (pic) claimed that he was asked to say that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was a “good Prime Minister” while imprisoned in Thailand.

Justo, a former PetroSaudi International executive who spent 18 months in a Thai prison for leaking the organisation’s documents, said that he was asked to do this by a fake Scotland Yard inspector.

“In January 2015, I had a delegation of Malaysian police (coming) to interview me.

“Strangely, I received the questions one day in advance – of course, with the answers,” he alleged in his speech at the 10th International Conference on Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing 2018 here Wednesday (Oct 31).

Justo said he was pleased that those connected to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal were finally being charged in court.

“Of course I feel very pleased. I have been sent to jail. I spent one year and six months in jail, parted from my son (when) I had done nothing.

“They are the criminals. 

“It (the arrests and charges) is not something I like for the pleasure of seeing them suffering, it is the pleasure of seeing justice working,” he told reporters.

Justo, who was jailed in August 2015, said that he was put in a cell filled with other individuals.

“It was probably the worst cell in Thailand. I was lying on the ground of cell No. 7, surrounded by 50 criminals, real criminals,” he said, adding that it was not “a pleasant memory”.

He also recalled his meetings with controversial businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, which took place in London and on a yacht.

“I never talked business with him. He didn't strike me as brilliant.

“He was very modest and quiet, not a big speaker but a big crook,” he said in jest.

Najib and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor have both been charged with money laundering connected to the 1MDB scandal.