KUALA LUMPUR: There were no suspicions when millions of ringgit were deposited into Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s accounts in 2011 and 2012 as the accounts belonged to the then prime minister, the High Court heard.
Former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 51, said she and her superiors had no suspicions that the funds were from illegal sources as the account holder was Najib.
The 41st prosecution witness said this when queried by lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah at Najib’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3bil from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
Muhammad Shafee: You were dealing with fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low. You were dealing with Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil (former 1MDB chief investment officer). You had no suspicion that the money came from illegal sources?
Yu: It involved the prime minister’s (Najib) accounts. I believe the higher-ups were all aware of it.
Muhammad Shafee: Neither you nor your officers entertained the slightest suspicion that there was something wrong with the money?
Yu: We would have reported it. From my understanding, the then AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang had met Bank Negara Malaysia officials. We took it as it was not illegal.
The witness then agreed with the lawyer that if there was any suspicion, Bank Negara would have been promptly informed.
“I was informed that the purpose of the money credited into Datuk Seri (Najib) accounts was a donation or personal gift,” she said.
Muhammad Shafee then moved on to Najib’s accounts, questioning Yu, who had suggested that Najib wanted to open an account with AmBank.
The witness said Jho Low told her that Najib wanted to open an account with AmBank and that she was shocked when she heard about it.
Muhammad Shafee: You do not think the PM (Najib) needed (to open) an account with AmBank? Is the bank so low that you did not expect this?
Yu: No, but I do not recall any of my dealings. They (politicians) typically use CIMB or Maybank.
Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to get bribes totalling RM2.3bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering.
The trial before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues today. — Bernama
