Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin told the High Court that he had known the former prime minister for 40 years, from the time Najib was the Pahang menteri besar.
“I managed to serve one year under him (when Najib was menteri besar),” he said, referring to his tenure as the general manager, Fraser’s Hill Development Corporation, a state government firm.
After his stint in Fraser’s Hill Development Corporation, Lodin went on to become the Armed Forces Fund Board’s (LTAT) deputy general manager in 1982. He then became LTAT’s CEO until 2018.
Besides LTAT, Lodin was Boustead Holdings Bhd group managing director from 2010 to 2018.
Today, Lodin told the court that LTAT and Boustead are companies linked to the defence ministry. During his time in both organisations, Najib was the minister in charge.
Najib was defence minister twice. His first stint was from 1990 to 1995 while the second stint was from 1999 to 2008.
“Most of our interactions were on a formal basis. Can’t really say that we were close (personally).
“(To my understanding) being proxy means (that someone is) taking care of one’s interests,” he said, when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar about Lodin’s relationship with Najib.
Lodin honoured to be offered TIA director post
Lodin also told the court that then 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi came to see him sometime in 2009 to ask him whether he was keen to be a director in Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).
Lodin however admitted that he did not know much about TIA at that time, except that the federal government wanted to allocate some funds to the state for oil and gas matters.
“Shahrol came to me and briefed me about the positive parts, and that TIA would be federalised and become a sovereign wealth fund.
“To me, it sounded exciting and this (proposal for directorship) came from the prime minister, which I considered as an honour,” he said, adding that he subsequently received his appointment letter, signed by Najib.
Kamal: Do you feel that you were “compelled” to accept this offer (from Najib) because it was like a directive?
Lodin: I could decline but I thought this plan was good for the country and I could contribute.
The hearing before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Monday.
Najib is on trial for 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion that were deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.