Purported charge sheet draft against PM shows plot to topple him, says A-G

The purported charge sheet against Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which has been declared as false by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), indicates that there is a conspiracy to unseat the prime minister by criminalising him, said Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.

The newly appointed A-G added that the plot to topple Najib was a threat to Malaysian democracy and an investigation will be carried out.

"These alleged charge papers therefore indicate that there is a conspiracy to topple a serving prime minister by criminalising him, and that the methods include doctoring, and criminal leakage," Apandi said in a statement.

"This plot represents a threat to Malaysia's democracy and I will direct for all action possible to be taken to investigate. The full force of the law will be applied without exception to any that are found guilty."

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.

But this was denied last night by Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Hamzah, who is the Deputy Solicitor General I (Litigation) in the AGC. He said that the AGC had neither drafted nor issued an alleged charge sheet against the prime minister.

Apandi confirmed this, adding 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 task force’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