PETALING JAYA – Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s lawyer today questioned Attorney-General (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali on the outcome of police investigations into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said police started the probe when former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan lodged a report on Dec 12, 2014.
“What is the outcome of the police investigation into 1MDB?” he asked in response to Apandi’s statement today that police were still probing the matter.
However, media reports on April 12 quoted Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar as saying that the 1MDB investigation papers had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Khalid said police had completed the investigations “some time ago.”
Haniff said the AG should stop misleading the public as “Malaysians are not in kindergarten”. Apandi should, instead, make public his decision on the 1MDB probe.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in a written reply to Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara), was reported to have said, on June 11, 2015,that Khairuddin’s police report had been classified under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust by a public servant or agent.
Zahid had said the investigation papers had been referred to the AG on March 9, 2015, for further action.
Haniff, who represented Khairuddin in a criminal case for attempting to sabotage the Malaysian banking and financial system, said Apandi was foolish to make comments on the fresh forfeiture move by the Department of Justice (DoJ).
The nation’s legal adviser expressed disappointment that the DoJ did not consult the Malaysian authorities.
“Why would the DoJ refer to us when internationally it is known that Malaysia declined to offer mutual legal assistance even to the Swiss authorities investigating alleged money laundering in 1MDB?” Haniff asked.
He said it was ridiculous for Apandi to state that investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies here had revealed that there was no evidence to show 1MDB money had been misappropriated.
Haniff said the alleged 1MDB criminal wrongdoing originated from Malaysia and money was diverted to several overseas financial agencies, including Singapore.
“Part of the money was channelled back as illicit gains, like the RM2.6 billion, to various individuals who are the main culprits,” he said.
He said Malaysia should take criminal action against those responsible, and not blame others for taking action.
Haniff said individuals involved in suspicious 1MDB transactions in Singapore were charged, convicted and sentenced.
“Further, several financial institutions in the island republic had been fined and their operations ordered closed,” he said, adding that was the maximum action Singapore authorities could take.
He reminded that it was Apandi who had called off the special task force – consisting of the police, Bank Negara and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission – when it was seriously investigating the 1MDB issue and the RM2.6 billion, following a report in the Asian Wall Street Journal on July 2, 2015.
“In January 2016, Apandi went public to clear (Prime Minister) Najib Razak of any criminal wrong in relation to the RM2.6 billion and SRC International,” he said.
The lawyer challenged Najib to voice Malaysia’s strongest objection to the United States government if the DoJ findings – which implicated several individuals, including MOI – were wrong.
“He should summon the US ambassador here and proceed to sever diplomatic ties with the US,” he said.
– FMT
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