KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not a ‘monster’ who led 1Malaysia Development Berhad board of directors like ‘lambs to the slaughter’ as characterised by a key witness in her testimony, the High Court heard today.
Prior approval from the prime minister included amendments to the company constitution; the appointment or removal of senior 1MDB management personnel; or decisions affecting national interest, national security, or government policies.Muhammad Shafee had suggested to Loo that Najib, as the single and only shareholder in 1MDB, had merely abided by article 117 of the M&A by approving signing off on the deals and joint ventures that 1MDB’s board of directors had intended to enter into.
Loo, who was 1MDB general counsel from May 2011 to November 2013, had previously emphasised that Najib was the same individual who was holding different roles at the same time — prime minister; representative of 1MDB’s shareholder Minister of Finance Incorporated via his role as finance minister; and as chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers due to his role as prime minister.
Before calling Dr Mohd Hafiz to testify regarding Najib’s health condition, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that Najib as the accused person was not available to attend trial for the remainder of today.