Witness: Najib's instruction to sign off on 1MDB audit report was intimidation

KUALA LUMPUR: KPMG Malaysia managing partner Datuk Johan Idris has described Datuk Seri Najib Razak's instruction to the audit firm, to complete and sign off on its audit of 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) 2013 financial statement within two weeks, as a form of intimidation.

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He said this at the High Court here when re-examined by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram at the former premier’s trial over the alleged misappropriation of RM2.3bil of 1MDB funds on Tuesday (May 10).

The 14th prosecution witness was queried about the meeting which took place on the night of Dec 15, 2013, at Najib’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta here.

The 45-minute meeting was held among KPMG, with Johan as its sole representative, 1MDB and Najib (pic) himself.

Sri Ram: You were asked to confirm that the minutes of the meeting do not show there was any pressure exerted by the accused Najib upon you at this meeting. You were there, at ground zero, so was there any pressure at all?

Johan: I put it (as) intimidation... intimidation for us to conclude and sign the audit statement ending March 31, 2013.

Sri Ram: From whom did this come?

Johan: Najib.

At this juncture, Najib’s counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed stood up and objected to the witness's answer as the word "intimidation" was never raised by the witness in any of his earlier answers.

However, judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah asked the defence to put forth its submissions.

Previously, the court heard that KPMG had yet to sign off on the audit for 1MDB’s financial statement for the financial year ending March 31, 2013, as 1MDB had yet to provide the information that KPMG had been asking for since April that year.

Based on the minutes of the meeting that Johan had typed out himself, he noted that Najib had asked for KPMG to sign the audit by Dec 31, 2013.

Najib, 68, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The trial before Justice Sequerah continues. – Bernama