KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's stepson Riza Aziz and Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low are good friends to the extent that they even went on family holidays together, the High Court heard today.
1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) former general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, who was once dubbed as one of Low's proxy said he first met with Riza, whose real name is Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz during a ski trip with Low in Canada.
"I first met him (Riza) on a ski trip with Low and his family in Whistler, Canada at the end of December 2012 or January 2013.
"Subsequently, after I left 1MDB, I met and became acquainted with him (Riza) on other occasions when I travelled overseas with Low," she said.
Loo said this when testifying in 1MDB lawsuit against Riza and his company Red Granite Pictures Inc and Red Granite Capital Ltd as defendants for receiving around US$248 million in funds they misused for personal gain, including financing a film and purchasing various properties.
Riza's laywer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, however, attempted to refute the connection between his client and the fugitive businessman, asserting that Loo was not in a position to speak on what Low thought of Riza.
Wan Azwan Aiman: In your witness statement, you tried to paint a picture that my client was Low's good friend.
Loo: I said I believe that.
Wan Azwan Aiman: You are in no position to speak of what Low thinks about my client, do you agree?
Loo: It was based on my observation.
Wan Azwan Aiman: So, your assumption on the fact that according to your testimony, that you met Riza during a ski trip in Canada. That was your benchmark of a close friend?
Loo: That was an example.
Wan Azwan Aiman: You were there as well, would that not make you a good friend of Low too?
Loo: I am not denying that.
1MDB in its opening statement claimed the defendants had knowingly received funds in circumstances that the funds had been misappropriated from 1MDB and dishonestly assisted in the breaches of fiduciary duty and or breaches of trust by Low.
1MDB claimed the misappropriation of funds was made without the board's knowledge or approval, did not benefit the company in any way, and was in breach of fiduciary duties owed by Low to the company.
It claimed Low was a good friend of Riza Aziz, having met while in school in the United Kingdom.
It said that Riza had introduced Najib to Low in 2009 and the latter became an associate of the former Pekan member of parliament.
On May 7, 2021, 1MDB and its three subsidiaries sued Riza and his two companies for allegedly receiving around US$248 million in funds they misused for personal gain, including financing a film and purchasing various properties.
1MDB and three subsidiaries - 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited and 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited — filed the suit.
They are seeking a declaration that Riza is responsible for the misappropriated funds and demand repayment.
Riza and his two companies, in a statement of defence filed on Oct 25, 2021, claimed to have obtained the loan from the Saudi royal family or the International Petroleum Investment Company to produce several films in the United States.
He claimed that it was difficult for an unknown film producer to obtain bank loans and that had compelled him to seek funds from individuals or companies.
The trial before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan continues.