Special team to probe graft charges against Malaysia PM

Prime Minister Najib Razak is facing graft charges that up to $700 million were funnelled from a government-owned fund to his personal bank accounts and a task force is set to probe the embezzlement, making him the first Malaysian leader to face criminal allegations.

The multi-agency task force comprising officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission, Central Bank and the police will probe the money trail of 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which allegedly ended in the Prime Minister’s personal bank accounts, said Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail.

Najib, 61, has denied the allegations saying these were part of a concerted campaign of “political sabotage” to topple a democratically elected Prime Minister.

“No evidence has been offered following all these allegations, which has only been based on leaked documents and unnamed investigators,” Najib said in a Facebook post.

Najib said he would decide in the coming days on the next course of action regarding the malicious accusations.

He said his lawyers were looking at “the wild accusations against me, that I had allegedly swindled or stolen $700mil of 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds and had transferred the said money into my personal accounts.” 

“They will advise me on the next course of action that I may take within the country and internationally,” he said at a press conference.

“I will make a decision on the next course of action regarding the malicious accusations in a few days,” he added.

WSJ and Sarawak Report published an article on Friday quoting an “unnamed investigator”, claiming that almost $700 million (2.63 billion Malaysian Ringgit) of 1MDB funds went into Najib’s personal accounts. The WSJ has stood by its report.

Abdul Gani said the task force officers are going through documents taken from the premises of SRC International Sdn Bhd, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd.

The Wall Street Journal?had named these three companies in its report on July 2, claiming that $700 million was funnelled into what it believed to be Razak’s bank accounts.

“After <g data-gr-id="41">eviewing</g> and analysing the documents retrieved during the raids, I have advised the task force on the next course of action,” Abdul Gani said in a statement on Saturday.

The Attorney-General said the investigations would be focused on all aspects raised.

“With the participation of various agencies, I am confident of professional and in-depth investigations. I hope all parties will extend their cooperation to enable the special task force to proceed with the investigation without issuing statements that can confuse the public,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has urged relevant authorities to investigate allegations made against Razak.