PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been arrested in connection with the deposit of RM2.6bil of 1MDB funds into his personal account.
In a statement, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) said the arrest was made at 4.13pm at its headquarters in Putrajaya on Wednesday (Sept 19).
The MACC said that the former prime minister will be brought to court to face several charges under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court at 3pm on Thursday (Sept 20).
The MACC will also cooperate with the police to record Najib’s statement before he is taken to court tomorrow.
” This is to help their investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001,” it said. -THE STAR
Najib arrested, to be detained overnight
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak has been arrested today, some two hours after he was summoned for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), believed to be over the infamous RM2.6 billion donation he received in 2013.
When contacted by FMT, a spokesman for MACC said the former leader would be brought to the Bukit Aman police headquarters where he will be jointly questioned by the anti-graft body and police.
According to MACC, Najib will be charged tomorrow at the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta.
In July, Najib was charged with four counts — three for criminal breach of trust and one for abusing his power — related to some RM42 million transferred into his bank account.
Last month, he was charged with three counts of money laundering related to the same transaction, under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, or Amla.
The High Court fixed Feb 12 to Feb 28 and March 4 to March 29 next year for trial.
Recently, Najib said he did not disclose evidence related to the RM2.6 billion in his bank account due to a request by the late Saudi King, Abdullah Abdul Aziz, to keep the matter confidential.
The RM2.6 billion was a ringgit conversion from the US$681 million he received in his personal account at the end of March 2013, just before GE13 on May 5, 2013.
“As mentioned several times before, I was entrusted by the party to source for funds and manage the party’s money.
“Like most other people, I have several personal accounts in various banks and the account which received the said funds was not for personal use but for use of political activities,” he said.
Najib said the US$681 million was received in two transactions on March 21 and March 25, 2013, before the 13th general election.
He said in July of that year, Ambank took some time to convert the ringgit in the account to US dollars, and the funds were returned to the source, which was Tanore (Finance Corporation).
“Because the exchange rate had already experienced a 10% depreciation from March to August, only US$620 million was returned compared with the US$681 million received.”
He denied keeping the money, adding that if he had wanted to steal, it would not make sense for him to place it in an account under his own name. – FMT
THE STAR / FMT
Finally.
ReplyDelete