Malaysia’s anti-graft unit says about US$700 million in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s accounts are donations, not from 1MDB
Authorities did not elaborate on the donor or why the money was transferred to Najib’s private accounts
The agency has completed its probe of the premier’s accounts and sent the results to the Attorney-General, it said. The probe was done in a free, transparent and professional manner, it said, without indicating where the donations came from or why millions of dollars in such funds would be deposited in Najib’s personal bank accounts.
The Wall Street Journal reported on July 3 that US$700 million may have moved through government agencies and state- linked firms to accounts bearing Najib’s name. The premier has denied taking money for personal gain and has described the furore as part of a campaign to remove him from office.
Facing his biggest crisis in six years in power, Najib last week removed his deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who had called for answers on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd. imbroglio including its investment decisions. The government said it also was replacing attorney general Abdul Gani Patail for health reasons, with former Federal Court judge Mohamed Apandi Ali taking the role.
The attorney general’s office is on the task force investigating the money trail claims against Najib. 1MDB is the subject of overlapping probes by agencies including the central bank and the police.
Controversy over 1MDB’s finances has dogged Najib for months, though an initial audit report didn’t reveal any suspicious activity. Najib chairs the advisory board of 1MDB and has resisted calls from ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad to step down over the fund’s performance as it amassed about 42 billion ringgit of debt in less than five years.