KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 17): Former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi told the High Court on Monday that he does not know why the company dropped him as a defendant in its US$5.64 billion civil suit.

Testifying as the fourth plaintiff witness, Shahrol maintained that he had not struck any deal with 1MDB or the government in exchange for immunity, nor had he signed any consent judgment following his removal as a defendant. He also denied testifying merely to implicate the remaining defendants, including former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak — the suit's first defendant.

Shahrol stated this during cross-examination by counsel GK Ganesan, who represents former 1MDB director of investments Kelvin Tan Kay Jin (the seventh defendant), when asked about being dropped from the suit.

Ganesan: Were you sued in this suit, Datuk Shahrol?

Shahrol: Correct

Ganesan: And then your name was dropped?

Shahrol: Correct.

Ganesan: Why?

Shahrol: I don't know.

Ganesan: Can I confirm that you did not sign any consent judgment with the plaintiff (1MDB)?

Ganesan: I did not.

During cross-examination by counsel Nur Syafinaz Vani Abdullah — representing former director of investments and chief investment officer Vincent Beng Huat Koh (the fifth defendant) — Shahrol reiterated that the suit against him had been withdrawn and denied that his testimony was intended to shift blame onto others.

Nur Syafinaz: 1MDB dropped its suit against you?

Shahrol: Correct.

Nur Syafinaz: So, now you are giving evidence on behalf of the plaintiff, right?

Shahrol: Yes.

Nur Syafinaz: I put it to you, you hare here implicating everyone else but yourself. Agree or not?

Shahrol: Disagree.

The suit was filed by 1MDB and its four subsidiaries — 1MDB Energy Holdings Ltd, 1MDB Energy Ltd, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd and Global Diversified Investment Company Ltd (formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Ltd) — on May 7, 2021.

It initially named Najib, who was chairman of 1MDB's advisory board, along with former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, former directors Tan Sri Ismee Ismail, Tan Sri Ong Gim Huat and Ashvin Valiram, Shahrol, former CEO Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, as well as former chief financial officers Azmi Tahir and Radhi Mohamad as defendants.

Also named were former 1MDB officers Terence Geh Choh Heng, Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, Casey Tang Keng Chee, Beng, Tan and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.

However, except for Najib, Tang, Beng, Tan and Nik Faisal, all others were eventually dropped from the suit. Tang, Beng, Tan and Nik Faisal remain at large.

The trial before Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Redzuan Idrus continues Tuesday, with Shahrol remaining on the witness stand.