by BERNAMA

The High Court here was told today that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low (picture) was never paid for his services as an advisor of Terengganu Investment Authority Berhad (TIA).

Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, the former chief executive officer (CEO) of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and TIA, said this during cross-examination by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah on the 18th day of the former premier’s 1MDB trial.

TIA was renamed as 1MDB in September 2009.

Muhammad Shafee: Was Jho Low ever paid for his services in TIA

Shahrol Azral: No

Muhammad Shafee: So, Jho Low did pro bono work for TIA and took billions instead Why would this businessman spending a lot of time yet he was not paid anything.

Shahrol Azral: It wasn’t pro bono because he stated he was representing in the early days Terengganu and the later days the Federal Government.

Muhammad Shafee: But he wasn’t paid

Shahrol Azral: Yes, he wasn’t paid.

Najib, 66, faces 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.

The hearing before Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.