KUALA LUMPUR: The relationship manager who handled Datuk Seri Najib Razak's AmBank account was apprised of an incoming "15 American pies" into the former premier's bank account by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, the High Court heard.
The "pies", in this context, were the sum of US$15mil, according to prosecution witness Joanna Yu.
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Yu, who was under an examination-in-chief conducted by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in Najib's 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial here on Monday (Nov 7), was referred to a transcript of Blackberry Messenger chats between her and Low, better known as Jho Low, in 2014.
She was questioned about a message from Low that read as "big boss just called".
"I took it that Datuk Seri (Najib) had called Jho," Yu said.
Another message from Low read "15 American pies incoming", to which Yu said she understood it as US$15mil was coming into Najib's account.
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Sri Ram: So the words 'American pies' were code for American dollars?
Yu: Yes.
Sri Ram: Did those monies come in?
Yu: I cannot remember.
The witness said she had asked Low on the same day if it was possible for the funds to come in British sterling pounds instead of "American pies" because "pies may have problems".
Explaining her text message to the court, Yu said financial services firm Wells Fargo had previously required details of Najib's account when transactions were made through the bank.
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However, the standing instruction was that Najib's account must remain confidential.
"We were told we were not allowed to give that information (of Najib's account) to anybody," she added.
Najib, 69, 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 hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Tuesday (Nov 8).
