IF TRUE, JHO LOW & NIK FAISAL NEEDED TO INCRIMINATE NAJIB – THEY SHOULD FEAR FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, NOT ARREST BY M’SIAN AUTHORITIES: SRC CASE ‘ALMOST WRAPPED UP’ – BUT EVEN SO, ONLY 70% OF THE ‘MALFEASANCE’ COVERED, ACTUAL THEFT WAS MUCH BIGGER THAN EXPECTED

The absence of two key material witnesses – Low Taek Jho and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil – will delay investigations into SRC International and 1MDB, sources say.

A source close to the investigations told Malaysiakini that Nik Faisal, the former director of SRC International, is a crucial witness to MACC’s probe into the company, while businessperson Jho Low is the main material witness in the 1MDB case.

“Basically, the SRC International investigation is the closest to completion. The case is already wrapped up, but Nik Faisal is still at large, that will delay it a bit.

“The absence of the two material witnesses, Nik Faisal and Jho Low are slowing down evidence gathering. Investigations are being carried out in stages,” the source told Malaysiakini.

Nik Faisal is believed to be still at large in Indonesia, while Jho Low is believed to be hiding in Macau.

On June 7, the MACC issued arrest warrants against the duo to come forward and assist with investigations.

‘Malfeasance bigger than we thought’

The source also mentioned that the former SRC director Suboh Mohd Yasin, who has surrendered to authorities, will be important to build the case.

“It will be a big step for us to build the case as we wrap it up. He can be useful in the investigations.

“The biggest finding we have at the moment, it is just 70 percent of the whole case. The actual malfeasance is so much bigger than we initially thought,” the source said.

Attorney-general Tommy Thomas is believed to be studying the first set of papers related to the case, the source said, adding that a progress report will be unveiled to the 1MDB taskforce this Friday.

In May, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor were called in by MACC to give statements to assist in the SRC International probe.

The former 1MDB subsidiary had allegedly transferred RM42 million through several intermediaries into Najib’s personal bank account between December 2014 and February 2015.

Then-attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali cleared Najib of any wrongdoing, citing no evidence of graft.

– M’kini