fbpx
Connect with us

Social Stories

Co-Author Of Billion Dollar Whale Shares How They Investigated Najib Back In 2014

Published

Ft Book
Source: NST & AFP Photo

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

Billion Dollar Whale, which highlighted the misappropriation of 1MDB funds to the world as well as former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and local business Jho Low’s parts in it, is considered a ground breaking piece of work.

The book which was written by Wall Street journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope detailed their investigations into the issue.

Recently, Wright took to Twitter to share one of the instances when they started investigating Najib’s role in it.

Book

 

He wrote, “In all the years covering Najib, his 2014 trip to a Chanel store in the Ala Moana Center best captures his nature. He was visiting Obama in Hawaii, but had to go home to Malaysia because of floods. His wife was angry for cutting her holiday short.”

“So Najib took Rosmah to the Chanel store to buy her a US$130,000 (RM581,640) watch, a birthday gift. To pay he used a credit card that was taken care of by Jho Low (and paid for out of Malaysian state funds).”

However the card didn’t work at first which embarrassed Najib. He then messaged Low who scurried to take care of the matter. Eventually, the credit card worked.
51541658034 Najibrosmah

“The US$130,000 watch was just one item among many, paid for with stolen money, that got Najib sent to jail tonight,” he added.

Full on investigation

Wright then said that they had reported this story in the Billion Dollar Whale book. 

“Someone leaked us Najib’s credit card statements, and we saw the charge from Chanel in Hawaii. There are 2 Chanel stores in Honolulu. I got thrown out of the first for asking questions,” he explained.

In the Ala Moana branch, Wright said that a Chinese saleswoman asked him to wait for the end of her shift.

“I sat 6 hours in a nearby Starbucks. She told me how Najib had come in with Rosmah to buy the US$130,000 watch. ‘I’m from China and I hate corruption,’ she said, when I explained our work.”

He then got transcripts of Jho Low’s Blackberry messages, which showed him messaging with Najib over the credit card problems in the Chanel store. He also stated that they had other bank documents showing Najib’s card was funded from 1MDB.
Yq Lowtaekjho 12072018

“After the Chanel purchase, just a normal gift for Rosmah, Najib flew home to survey the flooding in Malaysia, which had left 200,000 people homeless. Rosmah, whose trial is up next, continued on a shopping spree,” he added.

Speaking about Najib’s conviction, Wright said, “I don’t believe in karma, and today I was looking at photos from Najib’s daughter on Insta, and you can see her anguish.”

“And I’m not Malaysian. But the behavior of this couple in the Chanel store, abetted by Goldman bankers, captures a lot of what’s wrong today.”

 

What do you think of Wright’s recollection of their investigation into the matter?

Also read: No Handcuffs & Prison Uniform? Lawyer Explains Why Najib Still Appears In Court In A Suit

Collage 2 5

Source: NST
Source: Astro Awani

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

Feat Image Death Feat Image Death
News6 hours ago

18yo Teen in Penang Dies from Electrocution While Charging His Smartphone Using Socket on Express Bus

A teenager has tragically died in Butterworth, Penang, after he was electrocuted while charging his smartphone using a socket onboard...

Feat Image Twin Tower Feat Image Twin Tower
News9 hours ago

M’sian Activist Urges KLCC Twin Towers be Renamed “Sabah & Sarawak” in Honour of The Borneo States

Malaysian activist and founder of Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS) Peter John Jaban has urged for the KLCC Twin Towers to...

Collage 13 Collage 13
News9 hours ago

“They’ve been here over 3 months” – Foreign Beggars at Johor Pasar Malam Make up to RM12,000 a Month

Foreign beggars are making up to RM12,000 a month at a night market in Johor. In an official statement by...

Feat Image Parking Fine Feat Image Parking Fine
News11 hours ago

M’sian Vehicle Owners with Unpaid Parking Fines Face CTOS Blacklist as They’re Now Added to The System

The Miri City Council (MCC) has introduced a new measure to ensure that vehicle owners in Sarawak’s second-largest city adhere...

Feat Image Arrest Feat Image Arrest
News11 hours ago

Thai Police Arrests Famous Kelantanese Female Celebrity at Golok Hotel for Possession of 6,000 Meth Pills

A popular Kelantanese female singer was arrested by the Thai Police at a hotel in Golok, Narathiwat, north of the...

Collage 12 Collage 12
News14 hours ago

Kelantan Govt Says Cinemas in the State Must Play Movies With Lights On to Prevent ‘Unhealthy’ Activities

After a few decades, Kelantan remains one of the states in Malaysia that don’t have cinemas. The state government, however,...

Feat Image Indo Ban Pixel Feat Image Indo Ban Pixel
News1 day ago

“Who’s next?” – After Apple iPhone 16 Series, Indonesia is Now Banning Google Pixel Smartphones in The Country

Previously, we shared how Apple’s latest flagship smartphone series, the iPhone 16 Series, is currently banned from being sold in...

Feat Image Bnm New Rule Feat Image Bnm New Rule
News1 day ago

Bank Negara Now Requires All Money Changers in Malaysia to Record Full Name & IC Number of Customers

If you’re planning on visiting your local authorised money changer before that overseas trip to change Malaysian Ringgit banknotes to...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY