Kuala Lumpur: Najib Razak was worried that the auditor-general’s audit report on 1MDB would be politically “spun” to his detriment, the High Court heard today.
Former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy said that was the reason the former prime minister instructed him to attend a meeting on Feb 24, 2016 to discuss amendments to the report.
The meeting, chaired by then chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, was also attended by Ambrin Buang, the auditor-general at the time, his staff and government officials.
It was to be presented to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“I received a phone call from Najib a day before the meeting. He asked me to attend in my capacity as president of 1MDB,” Arul Kanda said when examined by ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram.
Arul Kanda, who was giving evidence for the prosecution, said Najib explained why he was required to attend the meeting.
“One of the key reasons was to defend the interests of the company (1MDB),” he said, adding that Najib wanted to ensure the audit department acted within its scope.
He said Najib also expressed concern that the contents of the report could be spun from a political perspective.
Sri Ram: Spun to whose detriment?
Arul Kanda: My understanding is that of Datuk Seri (Najib).
Najib is standing trial for alleged abuse of power as the then prime minister and finance minister in February 2016 to obtain immunity from legal action and causing amendments to the finalised 1MDB audit report before it was tabled at the PAC meeting.
Earlier today, the court allowed the prosecution’s application to examine Arul Kanda, who is charged with abetting Najib. He remains a co-accused.
The hearing before judge Zaini Mazlan was adjourned to July 4
