KUALA LUMPUR: The former chief financial officer (CFO) of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) said Datuk Seri Najib Razak never bothered to check on the irregularities concerning the wealth fund even after the matter was widely reported when the scandal was exposed.

Azmi Tahir, who was in charge of the company's financial affairs between 2012 and 2017, also revealed that the former prime minister never enquired about fugitive financier Low Taek Jho @ Jho Low's role in dishing out orders to the 1MDB management back then.

He said Najib also never reprimanded him for acting on Jho Low's instructions.

The 12th prosecution witness said this when he was re-examined by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who wanted him to explain whether Najib had ever questioned him about the irregularities in 1MDB. 

Sri Ram: Did Najib have the opportunity to call and question you on all the irregularities involving 1MDB?

Azmi: He never did. He was the PM (Prime Minister) and (he) could have done it. The issues concerning 1MDB came up in the newspapers and it was very public but he never called any of us (1MDB management).

Sri Ram: Would you have gone and explained if he had called you?

Azmi: Of course. How could I have refused...he was the PM

Sri Ram: Were you aware that Najib was siphoning money which belonged to 1MDB?

Azmi: No

Earlier, Sri Ram also questioned Azmi if he had personally obtained any of 1MDB funds, to which the witness replied by saying "not a single sen." He also denied conspiring with Jho Low to fleece the fund.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) then walks Azmi through several transactions involving 1MDB funds which had ended up in Najib's personal bank accounts.

This included US$681 million which had been transferred into the former Umno president's bank account between March 31 and Apr 10, 2013.

However, Azmi said he was not aware back then that this had happened.

The trial before High Court Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.