Arul Kanda said the meeting at Ahmad Farid Ridzuan’s home in Kiara Hills was held in early December 2015, a week or two before the report was presented to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

He said the then PAC chairman, Hasan Ariffin, was also present.

“Former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and two or three PAC members were also present,” he said when examined by ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram.

Sri Ram: What was the purpose of the meeting?

Arul Kanda: To explain the situation of the company and the report.

He agreed with Sri Ram that he found the meeting at Farid’s home “unusual”.

Arul Kanda, who was earlier allowed to be examined by the prosecution, also said Najib instructed him to conduct a roadshow just before the 14th general election.

“He wanted me to explain 1MDB’s rationalisation plan,” he said, adding that he took on queries during question-and-answer sessions at the roadshow.

He said he touched on the then attorney-general Apandi Ali’s statement in January 2016 exonerating Najib over criminal wrongdoing in SRC International and 1MDB.

He said he also clarified the US Department of Justice’s civil suit against several individuals over the alleged siphoning of funds from 1MDB.

“I gave the pros and cons of the matter but finally left it to the audience to make their conclusion,” he said.

Arul Kanda said that according to 1MDB’s accounts, no money from the company went into Najib’s bank account.

Najib is standing trial for alleged abuse of power as the then prime minister and finance minister in February 2016 to obtain immunity from legal action and causing amendments to the finalised 1MDB audit report before it was tabled at the PAC meeting.

Arul Kanda, who is charged with abetting Najib, remains a co-accused.

The hearing before Zaini Mazlan was adjourned to July 4.