Former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo said fugitive Low Taek Jho was a very soft spoken person who didn't really use 'harsh words' up until 2015 or 2016 after the 1MDB scandal broke. After which, he seemed a bit more 'irritated'.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) general counsel Jasmine Loo admitted that she was a "close friend" to fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

Loo, who is prosecution witness in the ongoing 1MDB-Tanore trial, said this in reply to lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah's queries on Wednesday.

The senior defence counsel asked this in the midst of questions regarding lavish gifts and holidays with celebrities to Brazil, Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas.

Shafee argued that Loo, 50, had benefited from the perks of joining Jho Low on these trips, but Loo countered that these were the usual forays which he labelled "friends and family" trips.

She did not deny attending these trips, adding that she thought the fugitive was a "close friend" and that he would invite other "common friends" for these outings as well.

Shafee: You know he has contacted me before, he never invited me.

Loo: Are you his close friend?

Shafee: So you are a close friend?

Loo: I don't deny it.

Shafee went on to talk about trips to watch the 2014 Football World Cup matches in Brazil where Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, football royalty David Beckham and Brazilian model Adriana Lima also joined them.

There was also a skiing trip to Canada with Jho Low, his "family and friends", including songstress Alicia Keys.

Jho Low's penchant for gift-giving, which has been raised several times throughout the trial, came up again on Wednesday. This time around, Loo said that she received a luxury watch and handbag from Jho Low.

The watch was a Richard Mille piece, a brand which Shafee said costs a minimum of RM500,000 and could go up to RM3 million. Loo said she also received a Hermes handbag after leaving 1MDB.

Soft-spoken Jho Low turned harsh after 1MDB scandal broke

Earlier, Shafee also insinuated that Jho Low had given these gifts to Loo in order to maintain their relationship.

To this, Loo said Jho Low was a very soft spoken person who didn't really use "harsh words" up until 2015 or 2016 after the 1MDB scandal broke. After which, he seemed a bit more "irritated".

Shafee: You know, in 2015 the 1MDB and Jho Low matter became scandalous. That's because of his partying and womanising.

Loo: I don't know.

Shafee: But he was seen a lot with actresses and models.

Loo: Yes.

The former lawyer also contradicted Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Foo Wei Min's testimony that Loo had met the fugitive financier in 2019.

Loo testified that she last met Jho Low in China in 2017 to discuss a project he was working on. She, however, could not recall the nature and specifics of the project.

Loo is slated to take the stand again when trial resumes on March 14.

In this trial, Najib faces four counts of abuse of power for using his position as then prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers to receive gratifications worth RM2.27 billion. He also faces 21 money-laundering charges.