NAJIB TO MAKE HISTORY NEXT WEEK AS FIRST PRIME MINISTER EVER TO BE ARRESTED? NOOSE ALSO TIGHTENS OVER 4 ‘TAN SRIs’ AMONG THE 400 PEOPLE UNDER POLICE PROBE IN 1MDB DEBACLE

The federal commercial crimes department is expected to hold another press conference on the items seized from residences linked to former premier Najib Abdul Razak next week, said a source.

Asked if this is an indication Najib might be arrested next week, he said: “Likely around that time, depends on the progress of the investigation.”

Malaysiakini has contacted the federal commercial crimes director Amar Singh for confirmation regarding the press conference.

Speaking to the media in Jakarta yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he expected his predecessor to be charged soon over the 1MDB scandal.

“I think (it will happen) soon. To bring such case to court, we need to find sufficient evidence that will stand up in court,” he said.

The prime minister is on an official visit to Indonesia.

On Wednesday, Amar told reporters that the jewellery, watches and designer handbags seized have an estimated retail value of close to RM1 billion.

However, Najib, in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, described this as subjective and unrealistic.

The former premier also claimed that most of the items were gifts.

The police are still determining the value of 295 designer handbags. – MKINI

Four ‘Tan Sri’ among more than 400 probed over 1MDB

More than 400 people, including at least four with the honorific title of Tan Sri, are being investigated in connection with the 1MDB scandal.

A police source told Malaysiakini that the list included Umno leaders and their family members as well. It is believed that these individuals had received funds from 1MDB.

Of the four Tan Sri, one of them is a businessman from Sarawak, who is believed to be a close associate of Najib.

The other three include another close advisor of the former premier, who is believed to have influenced the editorial decisions of the mainstream media in the past, a former high-ranking government official and a political leader.

“These high-profile individuals were on the list to be investigated as far back as 2014. But the authorities could not further their investigation,” said the source.

Previously, there was a special task force investigating the RM2.6 billion and SRC International funds which were channelled to former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s bank accounts.

Former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail had chaired the task force, which also comprised of former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akthar Aziz, former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar and former MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohammed.

However, the task force hit a brick wall when Abdul Gani was replaced on health grounds, prompting speculation of a cover-up.

Recently, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed that Abdul Gani was on the verge of charging Najib when he was removed.

At present, Abdul Gani and Abu Kassim are in the new task force looking into the 1MDB scandal.

Earlier today, the task force confirmed that it had frozen several accounts belonging to Umno, other political parties and individuals to facilitate investigations.

Whereas the New Straits Time reported that 900 bank accounts have been frozen.

Najib, meanwhile, continues to maintain his innocence and denies abusing public funds for personal gain.

According to him, the RM2.6 billion was a donation from a Saudi royalty but international investigations alleged that the sum originated from 1MDB. – MKINI

MKINI