KUALA LUMPUR – The 13th witness of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial, Tan Sri Ismee Ismail confessed that the RM2.3 billion embezzlement scandal made him restless.
Ismee, who is also the former Non-Executive Director of 1MDB alleged that he could not describe how he felt about the investigation of the scandal, especially on his personal safety, and the safety of his family.
Although he had unsettling emotions, he emphasized that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) did not promise him anything during the investigation to testify against former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“It was difficult for me to describe about my feelings, especially when I thought about the safety of my family. We are humans. We would think about various things when we were arrested by the authorities.
“Worried, afraid, restless. Everything,” he said during the proceeding before High Court Judge, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah today when questioned by defence counsel, Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh.
Najib is currently facing 25 counts of money-laundering, power abuse and criminal breach of trust for misappropriating the 1MDB funds.
Ismee revealed that the MACC calmed him down and convinced him that he did not need to worry.
“When I voiced my concerns, they (MACC) told me that I have nothing to fear. I don’t need to be paranoid and as far as I remember, they did not promise me anything in return for my testimony,” he revealed.
The witness also told the court that although he was not implicated for any criminal case on the scandal, he was sued by 1MDB.
Besides himself, Ismee said that several other directors were also sued by the entity, including the former Chairman of 1MDB, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin and Ashvin Valiram.
“I was saddened by that. I don’t feel betrayed. I felt sad,” he told Hariharan.
Earlier, the Ministry of Finance verified that 1MDB and its former subsidiary, SRC International Sdn. Bhd. Have filed 22 civil suits to regain more than RM96.6 billion of assets.
The amount includes approximately RM300 million from various local parties.
The suit was filed against nine entities and 25 individuals. Meanwhile, SRC filed the suit against eight entities and 15 individuals over various misconducts, including violating fiduciary responsibility and conspiracy.
However, in August this year, 1MDB withdrew the suit against seven individuals namely, Che Lodin, Ismee, Ashvin, Tan Sri Ong Gim Huat (former 1MDB Chairmen)
The similar action was taken against the two former Chief Executive Officers of 1MDB, Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd. Hazem Abdul Rahman, and the former Chief Finance Officer of 1MDB, Azmi Tahir.
The proceeding will resume on 5 January next year. -MalaysiaGazette
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