Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, in cross examining Hazem, said that the CEO had received over RM2 million as bonus when he worked in the sovereign fund.

“You said your concern was that Jho Low (Low Taek Jho) is the one ‘controlling’ 1MDB, but you seemed to be happy to take home the bonus, as proposed by the board of directors.

“The board even rated your performance as ‘exceeded expectation’. How could you take home the sum without feeling ashamed?” Shafee asked, pointing out that the company’s financial situation was “going down the drain” during Hazem’s tenure.

In response, Hazem said that was what the directors had suggested.

“Do I have to answer it?” Hazem asked.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib objected to the line of questioning, adding that the questions on Hazem’s bonus are not relevant to Najib’s 25 money laundering and abuse of power charges.

“We are not here to decide on a person’s morality. The decision on the bonus was beyond his control,” he said.

Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah pointed out the issue on whether Hazem deserved to get the sum of money or otherwise, had been decided by the company’s directors.

Meanwhile, Hazem said he was aware that Jho Low, the fugitive businessman from Penang, was charged in absentia for money laundering, three years ago.

“I expected him to be charged after the change of government (in 2018),” he said.

Najib is standing trial for 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion which were deposited into his bank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

The hearing continues tomorrow.