KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak was indeed the puppet master in the global-scale financial scandal involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), the High Court heard today.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the interest that the accused had in 1MDB was camouflaged in smoke and mirrors, behind the guise of missing persons and questionable characters.
"However, the facts indicate that it was the accused and his proxies that pulled the strings behind the curtain of the sovereign wealth fund.
"Why the government was so interested and stretched all its muscles to assist 1MDB in all its loan applications and bond issuance can only point to the penultimate decision maker in the Ministry of Finance, as well as the prime minister, that is the accused.
"The accused's conduct throughout the material time clearly show that he has abused his position for his own pecuniary or other advantage, in this case financially.
"The accused, having successfully established 1MDB, had placed himself as the ultimate controller of the company.
"The powers of 'hire' and 'fire' given by the 1MDB constitution to the accused had the effect of making him the ultimate decision maker.
"Nothing of importance could be decided by 1MDB without the input and approval of the accused, and none were," he said.
Akram said this in his submissions to establish a prima facie case against the former prime minister for misappropriating billions of ringgit from the company's funds.
The senior prosecutor said the entire episode was a well-thought-out scheme by the accused, requiring premeditation on his part to commit a corrupt act, with financial gratification being foremost in the accused's mind.
Najib, 71, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
For the 21 charges of money laundering, he is accused of committing the offences between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.
The trial before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.