De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan has lambasted ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who yesterday said he was “confused and concerned” following a plea bargain over money laundering charges faced by Riza Abdul Aziz.
Takiyuddin in a statement today said that the PN government hoped that Mahathir would not behave “like a hypocrite” and issue statements saying he was confused and had questions following the decision by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to grant Riza a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
“His actions were not reasonable as a former prime minister. The government hopes he (Mahathir) will not persist in misleading the people by saying he is confused,” the de facto law minister said in a statement today.
Takiyuddin said the PN government would continue to act in accordance with the dictates of the law and respect the principle of the independence of judiciary bodies.
Under the plea bargain deal, Riza, the stepson of ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for charges of money laundering involving US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) linked to 1MDB funds.
In exchange, Riza is to return foreign assets estimated to be worth US$107.3 million (RM465.3 million).
Mahathir repeatedly stressed that he does not question the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court’s decision to grant the DNAA, but said that as a lawmaker, this indicates the law may need to be changed.
He went on to question whether this means that other "thieves" could be let off the hook as long as they agree to return the money they were accused of stealing.
“I don’t question the judge’s decision. Surely it is in accordance with the law, but I’m concerned that there are many other thieves in this country,” he had said. - Mkini
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