KUALA LUMPUR - It was absurd to suggest that family and friends would be present during a meeting to plot siphoning billions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), former prime minister Najib Razak told Malaysia’s High Court on Dec 3.

Najib said the meeting between him, two Saudi nationals and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, was an informal afternoon tea on board a yacht at the invitation of the Saudi royal, Prince Turki.

Najib said he was with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, his children Nor Ashman Razak and Nooryana Najwa, and stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz on a private family vacation in southern France in 2009.

“Apart from my family, my friend Tan Sri Bustari Yusuf and his children also joined us,” he said in his witness statement on Dec 3.

“You can immediately visualise from my group membership that it was meant to be a private holiday to begin with.”

Najib, under an examination-in-chief by his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said he was pretty surprised when he received the invitation from Prince Turki for him and his family to join high tea on board the RM Elegance yacht.

“Prince Turki was the favourite son of King Abdullah, the reigning King of Saudi Arabia at the time. I graciously accepted the invitation,” he said.

“When we boarded the yacht, we were greeted by Prince Turki and a gentleman who introduced himself as Tarek Obaid (Petrosaudi International’s chief executive officer) and upon entering the living room, Jho Low was there.&rdqu...