Najib’s former aide agrees Jho Low acted like a ‘puppet master’

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6): Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s former special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin agreed with a suggestion that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, behaved like a ‘puppet master’ who controlled those around him to do his bidding, no matter what their rank or where they were from.

The suggestion was put forth by defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhamad Shafee Abdullah to Amhari, the eighth prosecution witness in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial.

Shafee was making references to a paragraph in Amhari’s witness statement which describes Low as a ‘master manipulator’, which the defence counsel asked the witness to explain during his cross-examination.

Shafee: You said that Jho Low is a ‘master manipulator’ in your statement. From your perspective, what made you conclude that?

Amhari: I concluded that whenever there is a need to execute something, he will be able to engage different people at different places to get what he wants.

Shafee: But exactly what do you mean by a ‘master manipulator’?

Amhari: In a very overwhelming way, he is able to persuade people in various positions, whether (in) high or low (positions), involving domestic and international people, to get what he wants to the point that most of the time, we don’t even know who these people are.

Shafee: In other words Jho is a puppet master and you and others are merely a puppet?

Amhari: I can agree with that.

The defence counsel later went on to enquire further as to how the witness knew of the close relations between Jho Low and the former premier.

The witness told the court that he had seen Jho Low at Najib's residence at Jalan Langgak Duta many times, more than anyone else.

The fugitive businessman even knew about the former prime minister’s travel plans and dates, he said.

Shafee: What else?

Amhari: When Jho Low, myself and Azlin had a meeting, Jho will mention certain things to Azlin and say “this will be raised to you tomorrow” and subsequently, those matters were raised to Azlin (by Najib).

Najib is charged with 25 counts of money laundering and abuse of power, involving billions of ringgit allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.

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