Ex-1MDB CFO: I'd pay my debts if I was in control of the funds

KUALA LUMPUR: Former chief financial officer of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) told the High Court that he would have paid his debts if he was indeed in control of the funds from the company.

Azmi Tahir, 48, said this when he was asked about the control of the company's funds during a cross-examination by defence counsel Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh in the RM2.28bil 1MDB trial involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak here on Wednesday (Jan 5).

The 12th prosecution witness said although he was the chief financial officer, it did not mean he was in control of every single sen from the company, as he was not involved in all of the transactions in 1MDB.

"If it was entirely up to me, I would definitely pay my debts," Azmi said.

Earlier, the defence suggested to Azmi that as the CFO, he was in charge of 1MDB's finances, but this was refuted by Azmi who said he was "not entirely in control".

Hariharan: Do you agree that as co-signatory and as the chief of finance in 1MDB, ultimately, you were responsible (of the finances)?

Azmi: I was acting under instruction. I did not make those decisions myself.

The witness also agreed that he had never taken instructions directly from Najib.

Najib, 68, was facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The hearing continues Thursday (Jan 6) before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.