We only used code names, I never knew customer was Najib, says witness

– Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior bank manager told the High Court here that she only knew a personal account with the code name AmPrivate Banking-MR belonged to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after investigations into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) began.

Former Ambank FX Sales Department senior manager Rosliza Ishak, 48, said when she took over the customer portfolio of 'AM Private Banking Division' from a superior officer, she was not told of the details of the account holders.

"I knew some customers from 'AM Private Banking Division' would prefer not to have their identities revealed, not even to the bank officer.

"They (superior officers) did not mention the account was owned by Najib. I was only given the code name and no further information was disclosed," she said when cross-examined by counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed at the trial of the corruption and money laundering case involving RM2.3bil belonging to 1MDB against Najib.

Earlier, Rosliza when reading out her witness statement said she changed GBP8.7mil (RM45,837,485.70) in six transactions between June 23 and Dec 19, 2014 after receiving orders from a former Ambank relationship manager, Joanna Yu.

"Yu will give the order to my department after the client agreed with the exchange rate given. My department later would execute the foreign exchange order given by Yu, after the customer confirmed the exchange," said the 25th witness.

However, Rosliza said Yu did not mention specifically the identity of the customer for the account she was handling as all transactions used code names.

Yu who is an important witness in the breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds against Najib.

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

The trial before Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah will resume on Wednesday (June 14). – Bernama