Najib Trial Day 39 Former Ambank Md Identifies Jho Low Via Two Photos

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The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 39th day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings
Summary of Najib’s SRC RM42 million caseNajib is facing 7 charges relating to RM42m involving SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary
1 abuse of power charge3 criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges3 money laundering chargesClick to view information on judge, prosecution and defence teamKEY HIGHLIGHTSFormer AmBank MD identifies Jho Low via two photosJho Low ushered me into Najib's house in 2011, says ex-AmBank MDNajib didn't lodge police report against me over the RM42m transfer into his account: WitnessI toss away my old phones when I get new ones, says witnessI deleted Najib's ex-aide phone messages as there was nothing wrong: WitnessJudge reprimands Najib for not returning on timeCourt resumes following short adjournment due to stand downCourt stand down as Najib not in accused dock after lunch breakShafee to resume cross-examination in afternoonWitness denies receiving instruction from Jho Low to transfer RM42mDefence counsel in heated argument with witness, DPPNajib said RM42m transfer into account damaging to reputation: WitnessYR1M had separate accounts for halal, non-halal fundingsEx-YR1M CEO joined Jho Low's company in 2004Najib arrives in courtFormer AmBank MD identifies Jho Low via two photos4.02pm - Former AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang identifies wanted businessperson Jho Low via two photos
The 49th witness, without hesitancy made the identification as he holds the pictures while in the witness stand
Real name Low Taek Jho, the missing Jho Low is being sought by the authorities to assist in the on-going 1MDB probe.Jho Low ushered me into Najib's house in 2011, says ex-AmBank MD3.45pm - The court hears from Cheah Tek Kuang, a former AmBank group managing director, that he went to Najib Abdul Razak's private residence sometime in middle 2011 when the then prime minister wanted to open a bank account with AmBank
There, Cheah adds, he was greeted by businessperson Low Taek Jho, or better known as Jho Low, who then ushered him to meet Najib inside
Jho Low then introduced Cheah to Najib, before Cheah started briefing the politician about the rules and regulations to open a bank account with the bank, and gave him blank forms and credit card
The whole meeting with Najib took about 20 minutes, he says
3.25pm - The prosecution's 49th witness, former AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang, takes the stand.3.20pm - Former CEO of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) Ung Su Ling finishes her testimony and is released as a witness
Before excusing herself from the witness stand, she tells the court that she apologises if she had been in any way rude when giving her testimony
The court then goes into a short break as the prosecution says their next witness, a 72-year-old man, had to go to the gents
Najib didn't lodge police report against me over the RM42m transfer into his account: Witness3.10pm - Former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) CEO Ung Su Ling says she does not think that Najib Abdul Razak ever lodged a police report against her for wrongly directing Ihsan Perdana's managing director Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman to transfer RM42 million to the then prime minister's accounts
She says this during re-examination by DPP V Sithambaram
Earlier, she testified that Najib's then aide Azlin Alias ordered her to instruct Shamsul to transfer the money between Dec 2014 and Feb 2015
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I toss away my old phones when I get new ones, says witness3.00pm - The court hears from former CEO of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) Ung Su Ling that she would toss her old handphones every time she got a new one
This includes the phone she had used to communicate with Azlin Alias, now deceased, who was then aide to Najib Abdul Razak in 2014 and 2015
Under cross-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Ung testifies that she tossed the phone after Azlin's death in April 2015 as she was sad with his passing
She, however, disagrees with a suggestion by Shafee that she told the court that she had gotten rid of the phone as a story, as the late Azlin cannot speak in his defence
I deleted Najib's ex-aide phone messages as there was nothing wrong: Witness2.55pm - "I did not think there was anything wrong."This is former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia CEO Ung Su Ling's reply to questioning from Najib Abdul Razak's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah on why she deleted messages between herself and the then prime minister's private secretary Azlin Alias
Shafee is asking her why she did not preserve her message conversation with Azlin between late 2014 and early 2015
Earlier, Ung testified that she received directives from Azlin through messages for her to instruct Ihsan Perdana's managing director Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman to transfer a total RM42 million from Ihsan Perdana's account to Najib's two bank accounts in that same period
Azlin passed away on April 4, 2015
Judge reprimands Najib for not returning on time2.41pm - Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (photo, below)takes former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to task over the latter's tardiness on being in time for afternoon proceedings
The accused's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah offers an apology, saying that there was an unexpected visitor which made Najib lose track of time
In a calm but firm voice, the judge reminds Najib to abide the time proceedings begin as tardiness leads to delay of trial which is not fair to others
"Accused must conform (with timely attendance)
"Further tardiness would delay proceedings and would not be fair to others (in court)," Nazlan tells Najib, who sits quietly in the dock
Shafee then resumes cross-examination of former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia CEO Ung Su Ling
Court resumes following short adjournment due to stand down2.40pm - The proceeding resumes
2.39pm - Accused Najib Abdul Razak enters the court, following a brief adjournment caused by his absence
He is seen entering the dock quickly to await proceedings to resume
Court stand down as Najib not in accused dock after lunch break2.33pm - The proceeding resumes after lunch break at 2.30pm, but had to go on a short stand down again shortly after
This was due to the absence of former premier Najib Abdul Razak in the accused dock
After the court waited for several minutes for Najib to return from break, his lawyer Harvinderjit Singh requested if the court can go on a short stand down as he goes to check on his client
Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allows the request.2.29pm - Proceedings resumeShafee to resume cross-examination in afternoon12.51pm - Najib Abdul Razak's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah will resume cross-examination of former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) CEO Ung Su Ling in today's afternoon session
This is relayed by the former prime minister's lawyer Harvinderjit Singh to Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali
Harvinderjit says he is nearing the end of his own cross-examination of the 48th witness
Nazlan then allows proceedings to be adjourned for lunch earlier and to resume at 2.20pm
Witness denies receiving instruction from Jho Low to transfer RM42m11.50am - Former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) CEO Ung Su Ling (photo, below)denies the defence's assertion that she sought instruction from wanted fugitive Jho Low over the RM42 million transferred from Ihsan Perdana to Najib's two AmBank accounts
“No, I was trying to get instruction from Azlin (Alias, the then private secretary to former premier Najib Abdul Razak)," she tells lawyer Harvinderjit Singh
Najib's defence counsel was asking her whether the reference to the word 'friend' in a chat log of a conversation between her and then Ambank Relationship Manager Joanna Yu in Feb 2015, referred to Jho Low
The chat log was in relation to the transfer of RM10 million from Ihsan Perdana to Najib's 880 account
She had earlier also refuted Harvinderjit's assertion that a chat log between her and Yu over the transfer of RM27 million and RM5 million from Ihsan Perdana to Najib's 880 and 906 AmBank accounts in Dec 2014, was in reference to Jho Low, whom she was alleged to be seeking instructions from
Defence counsel in heated argument with witness, DPP10.40am - A heated argument ensues between DPP V Sithambaram, defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh and witness Ung Su Ling when the latter is being cross-examined by Harvinderjit
This occurs as Harvinderjit was questioning the former CEO of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) over what transpired in 2014 when she ordered Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd (IPSB) to transfer a total of RM32 million into Najib Abdul Razak's two AmBank accounts
Harvinderjit appears to be upset with Ung when she keeps trying to further explain her answers to his questions, instead of stating whether she agrees or disagrees with the lawyer
Telling the witness to just answer 'yes' or 'no' to his questions, Harvinderjit then tells off the witness for purportedly looking at the prosecution team when answering his questions instead of looking at the judge
This prompted Sithambaram to rise from his seat and raise his stern objection, questioning the defence lawyer if he was insinuating that the prosecution was coaching Ung
"What are you insinuating? We are not into coaching witness," Sithambaram says
"Don’t push it," he adds later
Najib said RM42m transfer into account damaging to reputation: Witness10.10am - Then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak allegedly said the RM42 million transferred into his bank account was damaging to his reputation, testified former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) CEO Ung Su Ling
The 48th witness tells lawyer Harvinderjit Singh that Najib told her this when they met somewhere in 2015, following a Wall Street Journal report on the alleged transfer
"What he (Najib) said was that it was very damaging to him, his reputation and career and that he did not know where the money was transferred from to his account. I do not remember if he said or did not say the money was from IPSB (Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd)," she says
When Harvinderjit asks if Najib expressed shock, she says Najib was very annoyed
She adds that she apologised to him and offered to resign from her position as YR1M CEO
YR1M had separate accounts for halal, non-halal fundings9.45am - Former CEO of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia Ung Su Ling tells the court that YR1M had separate bank accounts for different funders
She says this was a precaution as some project recipients might be sensitive when it comes to receiving projects with funds derived from gaming proceeds
"So, as a precaution, we separated (the funds)," she testifies
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh, Ung said she had met Najib, who was one of the YR1M trustees, about five times on official matters concerning the foundation and its projects
Ex-YR1M CEO joined Jho Low's company in 20049.30am - The hearing begins with the continuation of cross-examination on former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) CEO, Ung Su Ling
Picking up from where lead defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah left yesterday, defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh starts his line of questioning with matters pertaining to Ung's witness statement preparation
The counsel then scrutinises the 48th prosecution witness' background, including her experience working in Wynton Group, a company owned by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho, (photo, above) or better known as Jho Low
Ung testifies that she first knew Jho Low while he was still studying at Wharton University in Pennsylvania, sometime in 2000 or 2001
She tells the court Jho Low then had wanted to come back to Malaysia and start a company, similar to a start-up he had done in the United States
According to Ung, she joined Wynton Group in 2004 together with three others, including her former boss at Marican and Partners asset management company
Ung continued to work with Wynton until 2006, when she joined CIMB Bank
Najib arrives in court9.19am - Najib enters dock as proceedings begin
9.04am - Accused Najib Abdul Razak enters the court and takes a seat in the front row of the public gallery to await the beginning of proceedings
Also seen in court are Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and DPPs, as well as the former prime minister's counsel Harvinderjit Singh and other members of the defence team
Najib Abdul Razak's defence team is set to turn up the heat today in its cross-examination of former Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) chief executive officer Ung Su Ling
The former prime minister's lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah hinted as much yesterday when he informed the court that the defence's line of questioning will enter areas of "controversy"
As proceedings before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali enters its 39th day this morning, the defence is expected to grill 48th witness Ung over her testimony
During examination-in-chief yesterday, she said that the RM42 million that flowed from 1MDB's corporate social responsibility (CSR) partner Ihsan Perdana to Najib's two AmBank accounts between December 2014 and February 2015 did not originate from YR1M
She also testified that Najib's then private secretary, the late Azlin Alias, ordered her to direct Ihsan Perdana's CEO Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman to make the transfer; that she was informed the transfer was made for CSR purposes; and that she was at that time unaware that the two bank accounts belonged to Najib, among others
- Mkini

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