text: [{"text_idx": "#000003", "text": "1MDB task force not set up to \u2018unseat\u2019 Najib as PM, Zeti tells court"}, {"text_idx": "#000004", "text": "In the High Court today, Zeti Akhtar Aziz denied knowledge of the existence of draft criminal charges prepared against former prime minister Najib Razak (right) in 2015 relating to his role in the 1MDB saga."}, {"text_idx": "#000006", "text": "The task force, consisting of representatives from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), police, BNM, and the attorney-general\u2019s chambers (AGC) was set up in July that year to probe allegations made against the sovereign fund."}, {"text_idx": "#000007", "text": "However, it was later reported that the task force was disbanded."}, {"text_idx": "#000008", "text": "Testifying in Najib\u2019s 1MDB trial, Zeti said the 2015 task force, in which she was a member, was set up to investigate whether 1MDB and its officers had committed any wrongdoing."}, {"text_idx": "#000009", "text": "\u201cWhen the task force first met in 2015, there was no knowledge of a connection between 1MDB funds and Najib\u2019s bank account."}, {"text_idx": "#000010", "text": "\u201cWe knew of 1MDB\u2019s high debt (levels) and a potential default that would impact future generations,\u201d Zeti told the court."}, {"text_idx": "#000011", "text": "She denied lawyer Shafee Abdullah\u2019s contention that the task force was set up to \u201cfind a way to charge Najib and cause a change in government\u201d."}, {"text_idx": "#000012", "text": "\u201cI am not aware there were draft charges (against Najib),\u201d she said, when asked about purported \u201cleaked\u201d charges against Najib."}, {"text_idx": "#000013", "text": "Zeti also denied that her role as a member of the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) established in 2018 placed her in a position of conflict of interest."}, {"text_idx": "#000015", "text": "Zeti said the CEP was not set up to investigate 1MDB. That task fell to another team headed by former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman."}, {"text_idx": "#000016", "text": "\u201cThe CEP was not investigating 1MDB. It was about economic reform."}, {"text_idx": "#000017", "text": "\u201cI attended the (CEP\u2019s) 100 days of meetings and 1MDB was never discussed. You can get the agenda and show me (if I am wrong),\u201d Zeti added."}, {"text_idx": "#000018", "text": "The lawyer had suggested that Zeti was in a conflict of interest as her husband and children had allegedly received funds from Low Taek Jho, the fugitive who is better known as Jho Low."}, {"text_idx": "#000020", "text": "Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then asked in jest whether the prosecution intended to subpoena Mahathir as a witness to verify the contents of the interview."}, {"text_idx": "#000021", "text": "Separately, Zeti told the court she is hoping that the police investigation into her husband, Tawfiq Ayman, would conclude quickly."}, {"text_idx": "#000022", "text": "She said the police had issued media statements in the past, saying that they are waiting for a response from the Singapore government."}, {"text_idx": "#000023", "text": "Asked whether she was a \u201cprotected\u201d personality since no action had been taken against her and her family, Zeti responded: \u201cI am an ordinary citizen and I am not protected by anyone.\u201d"}, {"text_idx": "#000024", "text": "Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering of alleged 1MDB funds over the RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014."}, {"text_idx": "#000025", "text": "The hearing before Sequerah continues."}, {"text_idx": "#000027", "text": "Historic Iraq-Iran railway link set to be completed in 18 months"}, {"text_idx": "#000028", "text": "Haiti crisis force finally gathers steam after UN talks"}, {"text_idx": "#000029", "text": "Motorcycle rider who rammed into JPJ roadblock in PD, injuring officer, pleads guilty in court \u2013 RM5k fine"}, {"text_idx": "#000032", "text": "In landmark ruling, court finds JPJ negligent in cloned car case"}, {"text_idx": "#000033", "text": "Jelonch set to return as France ring the changes to face Uruguay"}, {"text_idx": "#000037", "text": "smart #1 EV set to make its first official appearance in Malaysia at EVx 2023 this coming July 22-23, SCCC"}, {"text_idx": "#000038", "text": "AI-based traffic rules violation detection cameras are not new; set up as proof of concept \u2013 Anthony Loke"}]