1MDB trial: Jho Low’s code name for Najib Razak was ‘Optimus Prime’, Malaysian court hears
- The former prime minister was called ‘OP’ in chats by Low, who has been accused of masterminding the scandal at the state investment company
- Najib’s relationship manager at a local bank discussed where to bank the scandal-tainted premier’s money with Low, who remains in hiding
Joanna Yu Ging Ping, Najib’s relationship manager at Malaysian lender AmBank, told lawyers: “It means Optimus Prime. [Low] told me … OP is Najib.”
In BlackBerry Messenger chats between Yu and Low – who many believe masterminded the 1MDB affair – Low served as interlocutor for Najib, asking Yu which account “OP” should use to issue a 10 million ringgit (US$2.4 million) cheque or asking her to tell the bank manager that “OP” would close his accounts when they were flagged after being overdrawn by huge amounts.
In the Transformers franchise, which encompasses cartoons, films and toy lines, Optimus Prime is the leader of the good Autobots, protecting them from the machinations of the evil Decepticons.
When asked by lawyers why she had gone to such lengths to ensure Najib’s checks did not bounce, Yu said “it was the prime minister’s accounts. It would have been an embarrassment if his cheques bounced.”
