Lodge report against AG over 1MDB inaction, probe panellist told

Lawyer Lim Chee Wee has been urged by DAP's Jelutong MP RSN Rayer to lodge a police report over former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's failure to act upon evidence that ousted prime minister Najib Abdul Razak had received 1MDB funds. 

Lim was a member of the panel tasked in early 2016 with reviewing MACC investigations into a reported transfer of RM42 million into Najib’s bank account.

He had told Reuters on May 15 that Apandi had declined to probe further in 2015 despite being presented with evidence by MACC that Najib had received RM42 million from 1MDB unit SRC International.

Rayer said Lim himself could possibly be liable under section 25 of the MACC Act 2009 - which addresses a person’s duty to report bribery transactions - for failing to report such a serious dereliction of duty by Apandi.

"If this is true, Lim should lodge a report immediately with the MACC to enable and facilitate (a) probe (to see) if Apandi had possibly committed any offence under the MACC Act and the Penal Code such as abuse of power, abetment, conspiracy and concealing evidence," Rayer said, in a statement.

He acknowledged the constitution allowed the attorney-general the prerogative to institute and discontinue criminal proceedings.

However, Rayer added, "the exercise of this discretion by the attorney-general must at all material times be carried out conscientiously with integrity, based on evidence and the ambits of legal framework and should never be abused." 

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has ordered Apandi to go on a month's leave as the new Malaysian government, which was installed on May 10, proceeds to investigate Najib over the claims.

Mahathir has also ordered the declassification of the auditor-general's report on 1MDB, which had previously been sealed under the Official Secrets Act.

Najib, who has since resigned from his posts in BN and Umno after the coalition he led suffered a shock defeat in the 14th general election, is currently facing a marathon police probe, as his residences continue to be searched by officials since yesterday.

Najib has always maintained his innocence although several countries including the US Department of Justice has launched a massive probe against 1MDB for alleged money laundering activities.

Apandi had also cleared Najib of any wrongdoing, although the former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail said he was prepared to charge Najib over the 1MDB scandal. -Mkini