KUALA LUMPUR: Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi has denied being an owner of shell companies or that he received US$1mil (RM4.19mil) from disgraced Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner.
Shahrol, 49, made the denial during cross-examination conducted by Datuk Seri Najib Razak's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah here Monday (Oct 7).
The prominent lawyer said there were two officers dubbed 1MDB Officer 1 and 2 in a report by the United States' Department of Justice (DoJ).
Shafee added that Leissner had pleaded guilty at a court in the United States in relation to Project Magnolia, which involves misappropriation of funds in shell companies with 1MDB Officer 2 as the beneficiary.
Shahrol said he was not aware of the matter.
"I do not have nor have I ever had any companies, or shell companies, that I am the beneficial owner of," he said.
Shafee then asked the witness about "Project Maximus", where Leissner admitted to paying 1MDB Officer 2 US$1mil to an account controlled by Shahrol in July, 2013.
Shahrol disagreed with this suggestion.
"I stress unequivocally I do not have any beneficial ownership of that sort," the witness said.
Shafee: Are you aware that (Najib's former special officer) Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin was bribed with more than US$800,000 and this money was placed in his BSI account in Singapore?
Shahrol: Only from what I've read in the media.
Najib, 66, faces 25 charges in total - four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.3bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.
He faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the gratification if found guilty.
The trial continues before High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Tuesday (Oct 8).
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