KUALA LUMPUR: A former bank relationship manager testified that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho often "name-dropped" famous and powerful personalities, including Queen Rania of Jordan, during meetings, the High Court told.
Joanna Yu, formerly an AmBank relationship manager for Datuk Seri Najib Najib Razak, said that Low, also known as Jho Low, would not directly name-drop to her but he would mention the names while talking to other people in meetings such as former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.
Yu said this during a cross-examination conducted by lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in Najib's 1MDB trial involving RM2.28bil here on Tuesday (Dec 13).
The prosecution witness was asked if Low was the type of person who would sell himself self "dishonestly", to which Yu agreed.
Muhammad Shafee: Did he tell you that he was very close to many leaders of the Middle Eastern countries?
Yu: He didn't tell me that. He would say he was meeting who and who.
Muhammad Shafee: Like who?
Yu: He would drop names, that he was going to meet somebody from Kuwait. I would just let it pass as it didn't matter to me.
Yu also said that Low would say that he had met with the Bank Negara governor or the prime minister.
According to Yu, she has heard Low mentioning Queen Rania of Jordan.
"He also mentioned Queen Rania, about his meetings and travels (with the Queen).
"I (also) remember (Saudi Arabia royalty) Prince Turki and (Petrosaudi International Ltd director) Tarek Obaid," Yu said.
At one point, the proceedings became tense after an exchange between Muhammad Shafee and Yu.
The lawyer was questioning Yu about the appointment of former 1MDB chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil as Najib's bank account mandate holder and the transactions involved.
Muhammad Shafee told Yu that she was not answering his questions directly.
"When I asked for chicken, you give me a duck!" he said.
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 Wednesday (Dec 14).
