Crime & Courts

Ex-YR1M CEO used to work for Jho Low, appointed to top post by her cousin

Ung Su Ling said she joined asset management firm, the Wynton Group, sometime in 2004 when it was just a start up company.

"I did not have any real position there...you can say I was an executive of sorts," she said, adding her duties included that of a compliance officer's role.

The 51-year old, who has a legal background, was testifying in the trial of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is facing charges involving abuse of RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

To a question from Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Ung said she had also worked for the CIMB Group CEO's office after leaving Jho Low's company.

"I used to write speeches for Datuk Seri Nazir Razak then," she said, referring to the former chairman of the CIMB Group who was the CEO of the bank from 1999 to 2014.

Shafee: Interestingly you said you worked for the Wynton Group. Was it not connected to Jho Low?

Ung: Yes

Shafee: What was his role in the company?

Ung: He was the principal

Shafee: Basically he owns the company. He is the man behind it.

Ung: Yes

Shafee: You were there for how long?

Ung: Until 2012

Shafee then questioned Ung on how she ended up working with YR1M, which is a 1Malaysia Development Bhd linked company formed to undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

Ung said she was hired immediately after she sent in an application to 1MDB project director Dennis See.

Shafee: Did you go for an interview?

Ung: No, I was hired based on my track record

Shafee: Isn't Dennis See also related to you?

Ung: Yes, he is my cousin

Shafee: You were taken in and given what position?

Ung: I was made the CEO of YR1M Ung later explained the kind of CSR projects which had been undertaken by YR1M, mainly in Sabah and Sarawak for the betterment of rural communities living there.

On the funding received by YR1M for such projects, she said these were obtained from three main sources, namely 1MDB, companies within the Genting Group and also Petronas.

She said 1MDB had given the foundation RM210 million, Genting RM230 million and Petronas RM3 million.

Najib's lawyers will continue with the cross-examination tomorrow.

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