Gani must speak up if draft charge against PM real, PKR says

PKR council member Latheefa Koya says Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail must confirm or deny the authenticity of the craft charge sheet against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 31, 2015. 

Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has to confirm or deny the authenticity of the draft charge sheet against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said PKR today.

PKR council member Latheefa Koya said until the former attorney-general denied or confirmed the authenticity of the document, published by website Sarawak Report and circulating online, it would be wrong to jump to any conclusion.

“In the public interest, it is hoped Gani will come forward to clarify this matter. 

“The new A-G must not jump to conclusions by claiming that there is a plot to topple the prime minister simply because of the appearance of this alleged charge sheet. Where is the evidence for such a plot?" she said in reference to a statement today by Tan Sri Apandi Ali.

Apandi said the draft charge sheet naming Najib published by Sarawak Report was not issued by the A-G's Chambers.

He said it was false and indicated a plot to topple the prime minister. 

Last night, Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Hamzah, the Deputy Solicitor General I (Litigation) in the A-G's Chambers, had also tweeted that the draft of the purported charge sheet was not made or issued by the chambers.

Latheefa said the public had a right to demand for answers on 1MDB, but this did not mean there was a plot to topple the prime minister.

In its latest posting yesterday, Sarawak Report published a draft of the charge sheet purportedly done by former A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail against the prime minister, a former managing director and Nik Faisal Ariff Nik Othman Kamil.

Sarawak Report also said the charge sheet against Najib had let to Gani's sacking on Monday although his contract as A-G was until October.

The site said that Gani was abruptly removed when he was "on the brink" of filing corruption charges against the prime minister.

"The documents, which were being worked in their final draft stages by the Attorney-General, were sent to the Sarawak Report following the sacking of Gani and have now been verified by other senior parties,” it said.

Sarawak Report said the charge sheet against Najib was under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act and an alternate charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code.

The first charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Apandi today confirmed Tun Majid's statement on Twitter, and added that the format of the purported charge sheets published in Sarawak Report was not correct and not written by the AGC.

"These allegations by foreign national Clare Rewcastle-Brown in political blog Sarawak Report are false. The alleged charge sheets are not in and never reached the Attorney-General's Chambers. Furthermore, the format of the sheets is not correct or written by our Chambers. ‎

"The taskforce’s investigation has not been completed. So it is not legally possible for charge sheets to be drafted in advance," he said.

Apandi was referring to the unit that was formed earlier this month to investigate the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and allegations that billions of ringgit flowed into Najib's personal accounts from 1MDB-linked companies.

Najib, who is the finance minister, is also the chairman of the troubled state investment vehicle's advisory board.

- TMI