Malaysian Delegates Absent When Saudi King Pledged Financial Support Court Told

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Najib Razak said fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho helped arrange a 2010 meeting with King Abdullah due to his close connections with the Saudi royal family.
PUTRAJAYA: Najib Razak told the High Court today that no Malaysian delegation was present when the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia pledged his financial support for the 2013 general election.
Testifying at his 1MDB trial, the former prime minister said he met King Abdullah during a private audience in 2010, after the monarch met with a Malaysian delegation.
He named former foreign minister Anifah Aman, former religious affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom and former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Syed Omar Al-Saggaf as those present at the audience with the king.
Najib said fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, had helped arrange the meeting with King Abdullah as he was close to the Saudi royal family.
“We discussed the government’s intention to enhance diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Kamal Bahrin Omar challenged Najib’s claim, saying that King Abdullah never made such a promise. In reply, Najib insisted that he did.
Kamal then referred to Najib’s previous testimony in which he said he “understood” the funds were to take the form of financial assistance.
Kamal: Do you agree that your understanding came from Jho Low, because he also played a role in arranging this financial assistance for you?
Najib: I do not agree.
Najib said that some months later, he received a letter from one “Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud” informing him of a US$100 million contribution. He said “Saud” was a member of the Saudi royal family.
Asked if “Saud” was present at the audience with King Abdullah, he replied in the negative.
Kamal: He (Saud) sent this letter to your private residence. How did Saud know where you live?
Najib: My address is public knowledge. A lot of people knew (where I lived).
Kamal countered in jest that he was not among those people.
Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
The hearing before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. - FMT

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