MACC zips lips on 'Najib used SRC credit cards' allegation

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) declined to comment on whistleblower website Sarawak Report's latest allegations against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The website claimed the prime minister used credit cards registered under SRC International during his trip to Europe in August 2014.

"I cannot confirm as it is an ongoing investigation," MACC deputy chief Mohd Shukri Abdull told Malaysiakini.

Sarawak Report claimed the two cards involved were a Visa card issued by CIMB on which RM449,000 was spent and a master card issued by Maybank on which RM2.8 million was spent in the course of the month of August in 2014.

It also provided the respective credit card numbers.

When Malaysiakini conducted an online search, it was discovered that the BIN number 528943 cited for the "Maybank master card" was actually a platinum master card issued by Ambank.

As for the Visa card with the BIN number 458581, the check revealed it is a Visa platinum card but there were no details on the bank which issued it.

Similarly, pro-government blogger Lim Sian See also conducted a search, which he claimed showed that both cards were issued by Ambank.

Accusing Sarawak Report of continuing to spread slander, the blogger said there is no mechanism to check who owns the cards or if the cards actually exist.

"It could be all made up by Sarawak Report too since they can make up the names of the banks already," read the Facebook post in reference to the error.

Sarawak Report later issued a clarification, which read: "SR thanks our eagle eyed readers for spotting an error on our original information about the card issuers, whom they have correctly identified as SRC's usual AmBank.

"We have re-checked with our source on this particular detail and they have acknowledged crossed lines in the communication.

"We trust that readers will note that the exception proves the rule regarding the information we have provided and that we are happy to acknowledge mistakes when they inevitably occur when information is made hard to access."

Sarawak Report alleged that Najib had used the cards to settle more than RM3 million during his stay in Europe in 2014.

The website claimed this information was contained in the investigation papers submitted by MACC to the Attorney-General's Chambers on Dec 31.

"Items funded included hotels, meals, jewellery purchases and other personal luxury expenditures in the South of Europe, including Italy and Monaco," it claimed.

MACC has been investigating the transfer of RM42 million from SRC International into the prime minister's personal account in Ambank in late 2014 and early 2015.

The Finance Ministry-owned SRC International is a former 1MDB subsidiary.

The AGC has since returned the investigations papers to MACC seeking further clarification with regard to its findings.

On Monday, MACC denied a Sarawak Report article which claimed the commission recommended a total of 37 charges to be brought against the prime minister.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain while the authorities claim Sarawak Report editor Claire Rewcastle-Brown is part of a plot to topple the prime minister using stolen documents and fraudulent allegations.

However, Rewcastle-Brown has claimed that the attacks against her is a smokescreen to cover up the scandals. The government has also blocked access to the website.

Malaysiakini has emailed the Prime Minister's Office and SRC International for response over the latest allegations.

Despite numerous attempts, attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali could not be reached for comment. -Mkini