Najib Abdul Razak’s defence team contended that the then prime minister never instructed the 1MDB board of directors in 2009 to proceed with a joint venture (JV) with Abu Dhabi’s Petrosaudi International (PSI).

However, the sovereign wealth fund’s former board member Ismee Ismail stressed that he was under the impression that Najib at the time wanted it done. 

The 13th prosecution witness testified this during...