Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin said Najib had given him a secret assignment to “confirm diplomatic and investment ties between both countries” ahead of the then prime minister’s visit to China in 2016.

“He ordered me to go to China to confirm the cooperation between both countries,” Amhari said, adding that he grudgingly agreed as it was a directive from his boss.

Najib’s former special officer also said he was under severe pressure and had thought of resigning as the order was a burden, especially when his immediate superior Azlin Alias had recently died in a helicopter cash.

Azlin was also the principal private secretary and confidante of Najib, especially on 1MDB matters.

Amhari, the eighth prosecution witness, said he was worried that he would be a pawn in Najib and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho’s game of chess as they were trying to cover up money lost in 1MDB ventures.

“This was especially as 1MBD could not settle its dues with Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Co and sourcing political funds,” he said when examined by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib.

Moreover, the witness said he could not disobey Najib’s orders as this could result in untold misery to him and his family.

He said Low, better known as Jho Low, was also in China to join in the discussion with Chinese officials.

“It appeared that Low had earlier discussed the terms with the Chinese officials,” he said, adding that the talks centred around the involvement of Chinese government-linked companies to bail out 1MDB from its debts.

Najib is facing 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power over alleged 1MDB funds in his AmBank accounts.

He is accused of abusing his position to obtain RM2.28 billion in bribes in February 2011 and December 2014.

He is also said to have transferred RM2.28 billion in illegal funds to his bank accounts and to have subsequently used the money.

Hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.