KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court today was told that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, took steps to prevent cheques issued from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s private AmBank accounts from bouncing.
Former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu Ging Ping, 54, said that based on her interactions with Jho Low, the latter had told her to make sure that the cheques issued from Najib's accounts would not bounce.
"He (Jho Low) mentioned to me not to let cheques bounce or return cheques if the account was overdrawn. There were instances where Jho Low’s associates would bring cash to the bank to be deposited into the account when it was overdrawn.
"I don't think he was concerned about what cheques were being issued...he was concerned about the cheques not being honoured by the bank as a result of insufficient funds," she said, adding there were a few instances where Jho Low would message her asking about the balance in Najib's account.
Yu said this during examination-in-chief by Najib's counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee in the RM42 million civil suit filed by SRC International Sdn Bhd and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd, against Najib.
Yu said that, as the matter had occurred numerous times, she had on several occasions queried Jho Low and the mandate holder for Najib's account, former SRC International chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, on why sufficient funds were not ensured before the cheques were issued.
When asked by Muhammad Farhan whether this is s a normal behaviour of an account holder to issue cheques knowing that an account is empty, Yu, who is the fourth defendant witness, said these were not just some regular accounts.
"These accounts belonged to the Prime Minister. They are not regular accounts. I don't think anyone would want to do that, unless they assume there were funds in the account, I guess," said Yu.
The 2021 civil suit, filed by SRC and Gandingan Mentari, seeks a declaration that Najib is liable for the RM42 million, as well as damages for knowing receipt, dishonest assistance, misfeasance in public office, and abuse of power.
The hearing before Justice Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan continues tomorrow.- BERNAMA