Najib Razak’s defence team wants Jho Low ‘produced as soon as possible’ to determine truth in 1MDB corruption trial

Najib faces more than 40 counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power and Jho Low is accused of masterminding the fraud

However, defence counsel Muhammad Shafee argued testimony about the close relationship between Najib and Jho Low should be treated as ‘hearsay’

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Fugitive financier Jho Low. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 3:29pm, 24 Sep 2019Updated: 6:00pm, 17 Dec 2019

The defence team of Najib Razak on Tuesday called for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, to be produced as soon as possible in the former Malaysian premier’s corruption trial stemming from the 1MDB scandal.

Counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Jho Low should quickly be brought in so the court could determine the truth in Najib’s case.

“The Inspector-General of police (IGP) has said not more than a month ago that they [the police] got Jho Low and they know exactly where he is,” he said.

“The prime minister and deputy prime minister said they must get Jho Low. I would like to invite that Jho Low be produced as soon as possible so that we could determine the truth.”

Muhammad Shafee, who is the lead counsel for Najib, said this in his submissions in hearsay application against the evidence of former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.

Shahrol Azral on Monday described the close relationship between the former prime minister and Jho Low. In response, Muhammad Shafee said it was all “hearsay” since nobody could prove what the witness said since Jho Low had not appeared. He submitted that hearsay evidence, in general, could not be admissible unless Jho Low is being called to court.