1MDB trial: I didn't make any deals to get charges dropped, Jasmine Loo tells court

KUALA LUMPUR: Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) general counsel Jasmine Loo has denied making deals with the authorities to have the charges against her dropped, the High Court here heard.

Loo, 50, who is one of the key figures in the 1MDB scandal, was charged in absentia in December 2018, while she was on the run.

She returned to Malaysia in July last year.

Loo, who was being cross-examined by lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's trial involving 1MDB here on Friday (March 15), said she had left all legal matters to her lawyers.

Muhammad Shafee: You've been here for several months. You would know what you were charged with.

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Loo: Yes, I think some money laundering charges. There were three or four charges.

Muhammad Shafee: You have never spoken to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) or any other authorities about your pending case in absentia?

Loo: No, I left it to my lawyers. I just asked them to deal with this as I was to attend to the investigation.

When asked if she knew the status of her case in absentia, Loo said she "was not aware".

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Muhammad Shafee asked if she had knowledge of the charges against her or whether she had the charge sheets, and Loo repeatedly said she did not know.

Muhammad Shafee: You made a deal for the charges to be dropped when you agreed to give testimony.

Loo: I don't agree.

In December 2018, Loo was accused of allegedly laundering a total of US$5.99mil, being the proceeds of unlawful activity, received into the account of River Dee International SA (BVI) in Falcon Private Bank AG in Zurich.

ALSO READ: Loo: I feared for my life

The offence under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, carries upon conviction a fine not exceeding RM5mil or imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both.

Loo, who was on the run for five years, previously testified that she feared for her life and stayed in Bangkok, Thailand on the instructions of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

Former prime minister Najib, 70, 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 trial before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on April 1.