KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, seemed to be "everywhere", including joining former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's family holiday, the High Court heard today.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said this created the impression that he was acting as Najib's representative among 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB) top brass.
Akram added that this was despite the rogue financier not holding any official position within the fund.
"He (Low) was everywhere, even on Najib's family yacht (during their) vacation in Greece and France in 2009, 2010 and 2013," he said in a submission in Najib's 1MDB trial.
"When former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Bakke Salleh testified, he also said he saw Low coming in and out of Najib's office when the latter was finance minister.
"This is why 1MDB board of directors and management listened to his directions."
Akram said Low was not a "fictitious character" and had been identified by witnesses through photographs.
"He is a real person and he is everywhere in this case, from beginning to end.
"He was involved in a lot of things and transactions in 1MDB," Akram said before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Akram's submission is part of the prosecution's bid to establish a prima facie case against Najib for misappropriating billions of ringgit from the company's funds.
The prosecution also produced a picture of Low with Najib and his family during a vacation overseas between 2009 and 2010.
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, the former Pekan member of parliament is accused of committing the offences between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.
The trial before presiding Sequerah continues.