KUALA LUMPUR: A partner with a law firm who dealt with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in 2010 has denied meeting fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, the High Court heard.
Lim Chin Hian, 52, from Wong & Partners testified that he was "100 per cent" confident he had never crossed paths with Low, also known as Jho Low, after it was suggested by lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that the two had met.
Wong & Partners has represented 1MDB in financing matters.
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The witness, who is the law firm's Finance & Projects Practice Group chief, was being cross-examined by Muhammad Shafee, representing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the trial, on Tuesday (Nov 8).
Muhammad Shafee alluded to an undisclosed witness who could give evidence that Lim had indeed met Low in a meeting together with another partner in the firm, Brian Chia.
Muhammad Shafee: I'm hoping you will remember the events that have transpired, as honest as possible before the court. Can I ask you a direct question, have you met Jho Low?
Lim: I have not met Jho Low. 100% I have not met Jho Low.
Muhammad Shafee: What if I were to suggest to you that we have a witness from 1MDB whose name we will not disclose, who actually attended a meeting where Jho Low was present, Chia was present and you were present?
Lim: I disagree.
It was also suggested to the witness that Chia's legal opinion had caused 1MDB to suffer a loss of US$700mil when Chia said it was okay to send money to Good Star Ltd, a company linked to Low.
Muhammad Shafee: I am putting it to you, the advice given (by Chia) was to protect certain people in 1MDB management. This legal opinion was formulated to benefit Jho Low and caused 1MDB to lose US$700mil.
Lim: I have no personal knowledge and can't comment.
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Najib, 69, is on trial for 25 charges in total: four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah in the afternoon.
