Amid Roger Ng’s 1MDB trial, Najib hires PR firm in New York to burnish image in US

(MMO) – Amid former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng’s ongoing 1MDB trial in the US, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has reportedly hired New York-based firm Karv Communications to manage his portrayal in the trial and provide media relations support.

Washington DC-based news outfit Politico quoted a Karv spokesman saying the firm will “help ensure Najib’s actions and views are understood by US journalists and presented accurately in any US media coverage — including during the trial of Roger Ng currently underway in the Eastern District of New York”.

According to the report, Karv will serve as a subcontractor to Najib’s attorney, Tania Scivetti, for an initial two months — for which the company would earn US$140,000 (RM586,000) along the way.

The report also mentioned fugitive tycoon Jho Low’s role in concealing efforts to soften the Trump administration’s stance on the 1MDB case.

It said that Low had worked with Republican Party fundraiser Elliot Broidy, an ally of former US president Donald Trump — which included alleged efforts by Broidy to set up a round of golf between Trump and Najib.

On July 28, 2020, Najib was found guilty by the High Court of all seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in relation to RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the conviction and 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine on Najib for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC funds after dismissing his appeal against the KL High Court decision on July 28, 2020.

SRC International Sdn Bhd’s US$1.18 billion (RM5 billion) civil suit against Najib has been set for a sixteen-day hearing beginning February 13 next year.

On its website, Karv describes itself as specialising in corporate and financial communications,crisis and personal reputation management, litigation support and public affairs.