'Swiss motion on illicit funds does not specifically target 1MDB'

The motion on the repatriation of illicit monies tabled in the Swiss National Council is not specific to 1MDB, the investment fund clarified today.

Noting that opposition leaders Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Lim Kit Siang had written to Swiss MPs on the matter, 1MDB contended that it was not the specific target of the motion submitted by Geneva lawmaker Carlo Sommaruga.

"The motion is expressed in general terms, and mentions multiple companies and countries. It is not a specific motion on 1MDB or on Malaysia," it said in a statement.

1MDB said the "Corruption Funds to the Robbed Populations” motion, submitted on June 16 last year, had been reviewed by the Swiss government which recommended that it be rejected.

"On Aug 30, 2017, the Swiss Federal Council issued a detailed analysis of the motion and the Swiss cabinet proposed to reject the motion," it said.

The motion was tabled in the Swiss National Council on Tuesday, and is set to be debated tomorrow.

It reads: "The Federal Council is instructed to repatriate to its country of origin, at least in part, profits unlawfully obtained in third party countries by the Federal Prosecutor's Office and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) in accordance to the procedures of the Foreign Illicit Assets Act (FIAA) in the countries concerned."

The upcoming debate comes two weeks after the Swiss government indicated that it planned to absorb the CHF104 million (RM430 million) in 1MDB-linked funds it seized from three banks, because there were no claimants for the money.

Wan Azizah and Lim had written to Swiss MPs to support the motion, which they believe can help see the money being returned to Malaysia.

1MDB had previously denied ownership of the RM430 million, or that any of its money had been misappropriated. -Mkini