Witness: Jho Low was a regular at Najib's home, would ask for 'Milo ais'

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): A witness told the High Court here that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, was seen to be so close to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, that he requested for a "Milo ais" as soon as he stepped into the former premier's residence.

Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, the ninth witness for the prosecution and former chief executive officer of state-owned sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), said that he witnessed this when he was taken to the former premier's residence in Putrajaya, by Jho Low himself.

Shahrol Azral said this during examination-in-chief by senior deputy public prosecutor and former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram on Monday (Sept 23) during the 11th day of Najib's trial.

Najib, 66, faces four charges of abusing his position to obtain gratification amounting to RM2.3bil of 1MDB funds, and 21 money laundering charges involving the same amount.

The Pekan MP is alleged to have committed the first four offences at the Jalan Raja Chulan branch of AmIslamic Bank Berhad between Feb 24,2011 and Dec 19,2014, while the money laundering was committed between March 22 and Aug 30,2013 at the same location.

"Jho Low took me to Datuk Seri Najib's home and it looked like he was familiar with various parts of the residence," the witness said.

He added that as soon as they arrived at the front gates, Jho Low was given immediate access into the compound, and once he was inside the residence, he requested for a "Milo ais" (iced Milo drink) from helpers before meeting with Najib.

Shahrol Azral explained that they had made the visit to meet with Mubadala Petroleum chief executive officer Maurizio La Noche.

The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Tuesday (Sept 24), with Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah representing Najib. - Bernama