Najib not satisfied with contents of 1MDB audit report: Ali Hamsa

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): Former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa told the High Court today that then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had expressed his dissatisfaction with the contents of the audit report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) which was to be tabled before the Public Accounts Committee.

Ali, 64, who is the fourth prosecution witness, said Najib called him on Feb 22, 2016 at the Prime Minister's Office.

"The purpose of the meeting was for the 1MDB audit report as he (Najib) was not satisfied with the contents of the report," he said, adding he did not at that time know what the problem with the audit report was.

Ali explained that though he was a member of the 1MDB board of advisors (BoA), he was never called to attend the BoA meetings.

"Najib instructed me to hold a coordination meeting between the National Audit Department and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy and other officers," he said.

"The coordination meeting was held on Feb 24, 2016 with 1MDB, [the] Audit Department, Treasury, the Attorney General's Chambers and the Prime Minister's Office to resolve the issue," he said.

In his testimony, Ali identified Najib and Arul Kanda, who are both accused of tampering with the 1MDB audit report.

Najib is charged for tampering with the 1MDB audit report via a meeting held on Feb 24, 2016 where four contradictions that allegedly did not favour 1MDB and him were removed.

Arul Kanda is charged with abetting Najib in the offence.

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