Jho Low was Najib’s right-hand man in 1MDB, ex-CEO tells court

A former 1MDB CEO told the High Court today that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho was the right-hand man of Najib Razak and had directed the company’s dealings with the prime minister’s mandate.

Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, the 107th prosecution witness, gave six reasons for his opinion.

Firstly, he said he knew Low, popularly known as Jho Low, through Azlin Alias who was Najib’s chief private secretary at the time. He said this clearly showed that Jho Low had access to the working team at the Prime Minister’s Office and carried the mandate of the prime minister.

Secondly, he said Jho Low had direct access to Najib and was always present at meetings and discussions with Najib on 1MDB.

“I can confirm Jho Low’s presence with Najib at several places abroad such as in New York in 2013, and in Abu Dhabi around 2013 and 2014 when I was attending a signing ceremony or meeting with foreign investors,” he said in his witness statement in Najib’s corruption trial.

Thirdly, he said he saw Najib talking with Jho Low in several meetings on 1MDB in the former prime minister’s house.

“After that, the three of us would meet on 1MDB issues in which Jho Low would play an active role in the discussion.”

Fourthly, he said the meeting with Jho Low was through Azlin who admitted himself that Jho Low represented the prime minister in 1MDB.

Fifthly, he said Jho Low also managed his proxies in 1MDB, including Jasmine Loo and Terence Geh who were appointed as senior management, a move which required Najib’s prior approval and concurrence.

Finally, he said Jho Low also fixed the 1MDB board of directors chaired by Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin so that activities related to the fund would be easily approved.