Joanna Yu may have used own money to cover overdraft in Najib's AmBank account

KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): Former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu Ging Ping may have used RM55,000 of her own money to cover an overdraft in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's AmBank account ending 906, to avoid a cheque that was issued from bouncing.

During cross-examination with lawyer Harvinderjit Singh today, Yu revealed that she was often told by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, to refer to his secretary Josie or his associate Kee Kok Thiam for funds when the accounts were overdrawn.

On Sept 29, 2014, a cheque valued at RM80,000 was issued to the account of tycoon Tan Sri Lim Soon Peng, causing the account to go into an overdraft of RM55,000.

Based on the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) chat logs retrieved from Yu's phone, which was read out by Harvinderjit, Yu had then contacted Kee, who was in Melaka at the time and could not assist her in covering the overdraft.

She then contacted Josie, but she was also unavailable as she was making her way to Penang.

Yu then said she "may need to help fund first" if she could not get the necessary funds before the 4.30pm cut-off time.

"So, that RM55,000 that was put into the 906 account on Sept 29 did not come from Kee or Josie," said the lawyer.

"I can't remember," replied Yu.

"Again, I suggest, the money was from you and you were repaid the amount the next day," said Harvinderjit.

"It may have been," said the witness.

Harvinderjit then points to an exchange between Yu and Josie on Sept 30, 2014, where Yu had thanked Josie for repaying her the amount, with Yu then reiterating that she may have used her own money to fund the overdraft.

During the earlier part of the proceedings, Yu confirmed several fund transfers into Najib's accounts, including a £5.75-million transfer and a £2-million transfer into his accounts. Both transactions were noted as "gift" in the supporting document provided to AmBank.

The transactions did not trigger any red flags.

In December 2014, a cheque was also issued from Najib's 898 account, with Yu telling Low that the account would only be left with RM1 million after the transfer.

Yu had then told Low that the account holder needs to stop writing cheques due to insufficient funds, but her advice was not heeded as cheques were still being issued afterwards.