Ex-banker surprised after Jho Low denies conversations over Najib's accounts

A former AmBank relationship manager said she was surprised when fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that he had never communicated with her over the management of Najib Razak’s bank accounts.

Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 52, who handled the former prime minister's accounts, said this when she was informed about the matter by Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah at Najib’s trial on the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.

Shafee: Jho Low was shown the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) chats by MACC, and he said he couldn't recognise (the messages) and that he never spoke to you. You’d be surprised?

Yu: Yes

Shafee: In his witness statement, Jho Low said that he had nothing to do with bringing Najib's accounts to the bank.

Yu: I would be surprised.

The 41st prosecution witness, who handled the bank accounts belonging to Najib, also agreed with the lawyer that Jho Low had in fact communicated with her on many occasions.

Jho Low made the statement to MACC when he was questioned in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Nov 27, 2015.

The court also heard the BBM chats between Jho Low and Yu on the status of Najib’s accounts, where Jho Low gave many instructions to Yu regarding the transactions and Najib's bank statements.

The lawyer then questioned the witness on Jho Low's offer of employment at one of his companies with a higher salary in 2013.

Shafee:  Did Jho Low attempt to offer you employment?

Yu: Yes, he did. I said I had a lot of things to think about. I have a family and I wouldn't want to work according to his lifestyle. 

Shafee: Did the subject matter come up again?

Yu: He kept asking and I politely said no. I just said I had to think about it.

Najib, 70, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering.

The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today.