1MDB's lawsuit against me is malicious, former chairman tells court

The Star

06-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah has told the High Court here that the sovereign wealth fund had bad intentions when it filed the lawsuit against him in May 2021.
Mohd Irwan said this was because he was a senior and high-ranking civil servant, holding the post of Finance Ministry secretary-general when Datuk Seri Najib Razak was prime minister and also finance minister.
"1MDB's main target was Najib. However, they wanted to blame someone other than him and I was an easy target because of my position as the ministry secretary-general.
"1MDB also wanted to sensationalise their case by falsely alleging that I was aligned to Najib and his alleged wrongdoings and that I, somehow, conspired or colluded with Najib in failing in my duties and responsibility to take the relevant steps to investigate the wrongdoers," he said.
Mohd Irwan said this in his witness statement when testifying as the second defendant during the hearing of the US$6.59bil lawsuit filed by 1MDB, as plaintiff, against him and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy for breach of trust and conspiracy.
Mohd Irwan, who was former Treasury secretary-general, said the suit was clearly selective prosecution and done only to bring disrepute against him.
He said this was clear as he had resigned in 2018 and it was only three years later in 2021 when the government changed hands after the 14th General Election, was the action filed against him.
He said that at no point in time from May 2018 till May 2021 was a demand issued against him or was he asked to answer any allegations or given a chance to explain matters belatedly raised against him.
"Their conduct of bad faith is further shown when they filed this claim for alleged breach of duties as member of the board but yet, chose not to include the remaining members of the board at that material time, namely Datuk Kamal Mohd Ali and Datuk Seri Norazman Ayob, despite being aware that all decisions were collective decisions and none of the allegations made was a decision that I made on my own accord or attempted to push through without the consensus and approval of the entire board," he said.
Mohd Irwan said as a result of the lawsuit, he lost his reputation and his credibility had been tarnished.
"I am subject to ridicule and having to defend myself constantly. As a result, it is very difficult for me to continue to hold certain directorships as people are sceptical and weary of the allegations that have been made against me. Apart from that, I had to incur legal expenses in appointing solicitors to defend me," he said.
The hearing before Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan continues on May 19.
In May 2021, 1MDB filed a lawsuit against Mohd Irwan and Arulkanda, accusing them of breach of trust and conspiracy, which led to losses of US$1.83bil, linked to the company's investment in 1MDB-Petrosaudi Ltd, which was subsequently converted into the Brazen Sky Limited investment, purportedly recoverable from the Bridge Global Fund.
1MDB also alleged that both defendants committed breach of trust and conspiracy by misappropriating US$3.5bil in company funds paid to Aabar Investments and US$1.265bil paid to International Petroleum Investment Company on May 9, 2017.
1MDB further alleged that Mohd Irwan conspired with Arul Kanda to extend his employment agreement, resulting in a payment of RM2,905,200 to Arul Kanda, all while disregarding the company's interests, which ultimately led to financial losses and damages.
Consequently, 1MDB is seeking US$6.59bil in damages from both defendants and an additional RM2.9mil from Mohd Irwan related to the extension of the employment agreement. – Bernama