Tony Pua tells High Court Auditor-General's 1MDB audit was limited to company, with no investigations or inquiries allowed into Najib's personal bank accounts

Tony Pua, a former member of the Public Accounts Committee, revealed in court that the Auditor-General's audit was constrained to reviewing only 1MDB's financial statements due to a lack of cooperation from the company. He stated, "1MDB failed to provide many critical documents, including but not limited to investment agreements and bank statements of its foreign subsidiaries."¹²⁴

Pua emphasized that the audit's scope was strictly limited, with no inquiries permitted into Najib's personal bank accounts. This limitation was highlighted in the Auditor-General's interim report, which led then Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah to dismiss allegations against 1MDB, claiming the report found "no evidence of wrongdoing".⁵⁷⁸

The testimony was part of the ongoing civil suit against Najib and six others, involving US$5.64 billion related to 1MDB. Pua's statements were crucial in understanding the constraints faced by the Auditor-General during the audit process, which has been a focal point in the broader investigation into the 1MDB scandal.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court allowed Najib's lead counsel to expunge certain parts of Pua's witness statement, which included opinions and hearsay regarding media reports on the scandal during Najib's administration. This legal maneuvering underscores the contentious nature of the trial, which has significant implications for Najib, who was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and fined RM11.4 billion for his role in the 1MDB scandal.