Angela Barkhouse, managing director of Kroll (Cayman) Ltd, testified on August 10 in Malaysia’s High Court that she could not confirm whether Jho Low was the ‘‘number one’’ figure in the alleged 1MDB conspiracy [1, 2, 3]. Barkhouse, who has been investigating the 1MDB case, said individuals receiving 1MDB funds were naturally a focus of her inquiry [1, 2, 3].
When questioned specifically about Najib Razak’s involvement, Barkhouse confirmed that the former Malaysian prime minister was among those who received funds misappropriated from 1MDB. She answered, "Among others, yes," in response to whether Najib was one of the recipients and later affirmed, "That is correct" [2].
The testimony relates to the ongoing US$5.64 billion 1MDB civil suit filed on May 7, 2021, against Najib Razak and six other defendants. The accused face charges including breach of trust, statutory duty, abuse of power, and conspiracy to misappropriate 1MDB funds [1, 2, 3]. This civil case runs separately from Najib’s criminal trials.
Najib Razak was sentenced on December 26, 2025, to 15 years’ imprisonment and fined RM11.4 billion in connection with criminal proceedings tied to the 1MDB scandal [2].
The civil suit proceedings continue as the investigation and legal actions related to 1MDB unfold. Barkhouse’s testimony marks a significant development in the civil case, confirming fund transfers to Najib but leaving questions about Jho Low’s precise role unanswered [1, 2, 3].
