Eventhough, Malaysia's Attorney General(also Malaysia's Public Prosecutor) have made an announcement that there is 'insufficient' evidence to charge Najib Tun Razak for corruption...and has aparently asked that the investigation be closed, the matter is far from over...
Recent disclosures in the media, seems not just to reveal new evidence but questions the conclusions of the Malaysian AG..
Some of the new points made:-
DONATIONS - well, now it is reported that it was not a 'donation' - believes it was an 'investment'. He also said that the money did not come from the Arab Saudi Royal Family - but a private Saudi citizen. When it is the Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister making these statements to the media, it certainly deserves more investigation. But, he is using words like 'I think' and/or 'I believe' - which are not clear statements of facts, but mere opinions. Opinions or not, for the Minister to even suggest this makes it important for Malaysia to investigate further...
'Misappropriation of funds' from Malaysian state companies - whereby some of these transactions done by 'public officials' - and we are talking about RM16.8 billion...and these statements are coming from Authorities in Switzerland investigating 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)...
For, Malaysians, it is not just about whether state-owned or GLCs broke existing laws - but whether they have abused the trust of the Malaysian people?
Now, I believe, that all these need to be seriously investigated by Malaysia - and our Attorney General now have the reason, based on these new 'evidence' or assertion, to re-open the investigations...
As disclosed by the AG, the fact now is that Najib Tun Razak not only knew of the money that was banked into his personal bank account, but that he also USED this money, and returned the balance.
The person being investigated must be Najib Tun Razak personally, not the office of the Prime Minister... Is there sufficient evidence against Najib Tun Razak that warrants he be charged in court? It is the fact that Najib is a public officer, the Prime Minister and also the Minister of Finance, makes it a concern for all Malaysians and also an act of corruption?
The silence on the part of Najib Tun Razak is also distubing. Tell us Malaysians the full version of the story...and we will decide whether it is acceptable or not..
The assertions made in news reports are mere assertions, which need to be now investigated to determine whether it is true or not true.
See also:-
Malaysian Bar - The Attorney General Must Reconsider MACC’s Investigation Papers on the Transfer of Funds into the Personal Bank Accounts of the Prime Minister
Public Prosecutor should be independent and receive no other income or be a Company Director?
AG Apandi Ali - Director of LUTH? Was this 'gratification' for how he dealt with criminal allegations against PM? Explain please..
Can or should PM Najib be investigated and/or charged for corruption? What does the law say? - Just an opinion
Funds in Najib’s accounts an investment, not donation, says Saudi minister
He was also quoted as saying the money went to an “investment in Malaysia”.
“It is a private Saudi citizen, I believe, and the funds went to an investment in Malaysia,” he said in an interview with the NYT published yesterday.
The daily also quoted a member of the royal family and a close associate of the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying that the money had come from a Saudi prince, but that it was not a donation. The associate also reportedly questioned the sum, but said the funds were part of a business deal.
Last month, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali said the US$681 million deposited into Najib’s personal accounts was a donation from the Saudi royal family given “without any consideration” and closed the case.
But authorities in Switzerland investigating state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) uncovered that some US$4 billion (RM16.8 billion) have been misappropriated from state companies.
Swiss attorney-general Michael Lauber has also expressed concern over his Malaysian counterpart’s decision to stop investigations into the funds transferred into Najib’s accounts, saying the move could hamper Switzerland’s own probe into 1MDB.
Apandi responded that the ongoing Swiss investigations into 1MDB were separate from the donation case. – February 6, 2016.
Swiss 1MDB probe reveals US$4 billion funds abuse by Malaysian government firms
“The sum suspected to have been misappropriated amounts to around US$4 billion,” the daily quoted the Swiss attorney-general’s office as saying.
“Its intended purpose is the subject of further investigations.” Swiss attorney-general (A-G) Michael Lauber also expressed concern over his Malaysian counterpart's decision to stop investigations into the transfer of US$681 million into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s private bank accounts, saying the move could hamper Switzerland’s own probe into the troubled state-owned investment firm.
“We are very concerned,” WSJ quoted Lauber as saying.
“We have found evidence of suspicious money transfers linked to 1MDB going through Swiss financial institutions, and we believe that it is very important that it is shared with the Malaysian authorities.”
A-G Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali on Tuesday said there was “insufficient evidence” to charge Najib for accepting US$681 million, which was said to be a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.
"Based on facts and evidence, no criminal offences have been committed by the PM in relation to three investigation papers," Apandi said following months of investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"I hereby order MACC to close the investigation papers."
WSJ also quoted a spokesman for the Swiss A-G as saying that the investigation should not be closed as there was "a sizeable fraud taking place".
"Without assistance from Malaysia, our investigation in Switzerland risks running into a dead-end," he told the daily. – January 30, 2016.
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