1MDB trial: Abu Kassim was replaced to protect Najib from investigation, says witness
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur was told on Tuesday (Feb 13) that the then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed was replaced to protect Datuk Seri Najib Razak from being investigated and charged in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal in 2016.
It was disclosed by MACC senior superintendent Nur Aida Arifin, 37, when verifying the content of an audio recording of a conversation between Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and his former special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin.
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00:00 The High Court in Kuala Lumpur heard on Tuesday that the then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
00:06 (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Qasim Mohamad was replaced in 2016 to protect Datuk
00:13 Seri Najib Razak from investigation and charges related to the One Malaysia Development Berhad
00:19 1MDB scandal.
00:21 MACC Senior Superintendent Nur Aida Arifin said that when verifying the content of an
00:27 audio recording of a conversation between Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosma Mansor and
00:33 his former special officer Datuk Amhari Effendi Nazaruddin.
00:38 The 49th prosecution witness told the court that after Abu Qasim was replaced by Tan Sri
00:44 Zulkifli Ahmad, she received instructions not to continue with the investigation.
00:50 When questioned about the source of the instructions, Nur Aida mentioned that she did not recall
00:55 the name but had documented receiving them in her investigation diary.
01:00 The court also listened to an audio recording of a conversation between Najib and Abu Dhabi's
01:05 Mubadala Chief Executive Officer Khaldun Al Mubarak discussing the production of a film
01:11 by Najib's stepson Riza Shariz Abdul Aziz using funds from 1MDB.
01:17 During the proceedings, nine audio recordings were played allegedly involving Najib, Rosma
01:23 and several high-profile individuals linked to the 1MDB investigation.
01:29 The witness identified voices such as Zulkifli, former Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Abdul
01:35 Rahim, Najib's former private secretary Tan Sri Shukri Mohammed Saleh Amhari, United Arab
01:42 Emirates Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan and Khaldun.
01:47 Nur Aida also stated that Najib did not instruct authorities to investigate the fugitive businessman
01:54 Joe Lowe despite being aware of Lowe's significant roles in 1MDB.
01:59 Based on her investigation, Nur Aida mentioned that she did not find any written letters
02:04 from Najib to King Abdullah or the Saudi Arabian government as a token of appreciation or gratitude
02:11 for any donations, as alleged by the former Prime Minister.
02:14 For more information visit www.fema.gov/covid19 or call 1-866-934-787-1.
02:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]