PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has denied sending his former special officer, Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin, to China on a "secret mission" in 2016 to bail out the debt-laden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The former prime minister testified at the High Court that it was a "ridiculous" notion that China could have solved the issues that 1MDB was facing and such a move could have been subjected to "severe international condemnation".
"What is the mechanism (to bail out 1MDB)? They (China) made infrastructure, we pay them. How do they pay our debt?
"To me, it's a ridiculous scheme," he said at the RM2.28bil 1MDB trial that convened in Putrajaya here on Wednesday (Jan 15).
During cross-examination, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib suggested that Najib sanctioned Amhari's trip to China in a “desperate” attempt to get China's support in solving 1MDB's debt crisis.
Najib said that Amhari's trip to China was reconnaissance work to determine the possibility of doing infrastructure projects with China.
DPP Ahmad Akram: Do you agree that whatever he (Amhari) said to the Chinese officials then were upon your instructions?
Najib: No, I disagree.
DPP Ahmad Akram: Whatever he (Amhari) said (to the Chinese) was to solve 1MDB's issues.
Najib: But how could China resolve 1MDB's issues? He's dealing with state-owned enterprises.
The prosecution then moved to question Najib about Amhari's trip to Abu Dhabi, which took place after China.
Najib said he had sent Amhari to Abu Dhabi to meet with Mubadala Investment Co group chief executive officer (CEO) Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak to resolve matters between 1MDB and International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) diplomatically without going to arbitration.
DPP Ahmad Akram: What is Amhari's position in 1MDB?
Najib: He doesn't hold any position in 1MDB, but he is representing me.
Najib further said that he chose Amhari for the 1MDB-IPIC dispute because he wanted someone from his office, not from 1MDB, to represent him.
DPP Ahmad Akram: You trusted Amhari, then?
Najib: At that time, yes.
DPP Ahmad Akram: I put it to you, you instructed Amhari to see Khaldoon for your own personal interest.
Najib: I disagree. I wanted the maximum return on the money owed to 1MDB.
On Oct 30, Najib was ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB's funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Wednesday afternoon.
