KUALA LUMPUR: A former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO admitted to signing a meeting minutes in 2011 despite knowing it was untruthful, the High Court heard.
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi (pic), 49, said he signed the document as former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak had signed it first.
The ninth witness, who was under cross-examination by Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in the 1MDB trial, was referred to the minutes of a meeting between Najib, the chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers and Shahrol, the company CEO, dated March 30, 2011.
Shahrol said he was given the minutes by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, who told him Najib had agreed to it, and that Shahrol should sign it too.
To a question by Shafee, Shahrol agreed he did not understand what the minutes was about but signed the document nevertheless.
He said at that time, he understood that Low and Najib were working towards the best interest of the country.
Shafee: You have signed the document approving this minute taking place. You signed it because Najib signed it although it does not make sense to you.
Shahrol: I signed it on the basis that this is an instruction from Najib, therefore we must execute it.
Shafee was clearly dissatisfied with the witness’ answer, to which Shahrol replied: “But he already signed it.”
“At that time I still see Jho as very much representing the interest of the prime minister,” Shahrol said.
Shafee remarked that was “the best kind of silo”.
“So Najib sat on his own and had a meeting with himself because you said you did not attend the meeting, and got this minutes done by somebody else. This is the best kind of silo. Almost like a psycho,” Shafee said.
Shahrol said he took it as “the kind of document that Jho and the prime minister had agreed to and we had to execute it”.
Shafee: You signed it under “recorded by Shahrol”.
Shahrol: That’s not true.
Shafee: You were willing to put your signature under an untrue document.
Shahrol: I was willing to sign it under the consideration that the ultimate power of 1MDB was with Najib.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then asked the witness again to firm up his answer.
“I agree that this was not a truthful record but I signed on the basis of the belief that Jho was working with Najib on these matters and Najib wanted them executed,” said Shahrol.
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.
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 hearing before Justice Sequerah continues on Monday.
Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi (pic), 49, said he signed the document as former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak had signed it first.
The ninth witness, who was under cross-examination by Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in the 1MDB trial, was referred to the minutes of a meeting between Najib, the chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers and Shahrol, the company CEO, dated March 30, 2011.
Shahrol said he was given the minutes by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, who told him Najib had agreed to it, and that Shahrol should sign it too.
To a question by Shafee, Shahrol agreed he did not understand what the minutes was about but signed the document nevertheless.
He said at that time, he understood that Low and Najib were working towards the best interest of the country.
Shafee: You have signed the document approving this minute taking place. You signed it because Najib signed it although it does not make sense to you.
Shahrol: I signed it on the basis that this is an instruction from Najib, therefore we must execute it.
Shafee was clearly dissatisfied with the witness’ answer, to which Shahrol replied: “But he already signed it.”
“At that time I still see Jho as very much representing the interest of the prime minister,” Shahrol said.
Shafee remarked that was “the best kind of silo”.
“So Najib sat on his own and had a meeting with himself because you said you did not attend the meeting, and got this minutes done by somebody else. This is the best kind of silo. Almost like a psycho,” Shafee said.
Shahrol said he took it as “the kind of document that Jho and the prime minister had agreed to and we had to execute it”.
Shafee: You signed it under “recorded by Shahrol”.
Shahrol: That’s not true.
Shafee: You were willing to put your signature under an untrue document.
Shahrol: I was willing to sign it under the consideration that the ultimate power of 1MDB was with Najib.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then asked the witness again to firm up his answer.
“I agree that this was not a truthful record but I signed on the basis of the belief that Jho was working with Najib on these matters and Najib wanted them executed,” said Shahrol.
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.
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 hearing before Justice Sequerah continues on Monday.
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