WSJ releases documents, task force freezes six accounts

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KUCHING: Wall Street Journal (WSJ) yesterday released nine documents showing alleged bank transfers from some companies to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s personal accounts.

The publication of the documents was apparently in response to Najib’s statement on Sunday saying he would decide in several days on the form of action to be taken over the allegation and that the matter had been referred to his panel of lawyers for advice and the follow-up action to be taken over the allegation.

The US daily had insisted that its report was based on “solid” and “reliable” documents known to top government officials investigating 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)’s finances.

Meanwhile, the special task force investigating the allegations made by WSJ had ordered the freezing of six bank accounts linked to the case on July 6.

According to a joint statement from Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed yesterday this was an update given by a special task force investigating the allegations.

In addition, the special task force has seized documents associated to 17 accounts from two banks to assist with further investigations.

They have also taken documents involving issues of non-compliance with regulations and methods set by Bank Negara Malaysia by the banks concerned.

The statement did not state the account holders’ names nor were the names of the two banks mentioned.

Investigations are still ongoing. The task force calls on all parties to cooperate fully in order to complete the investigation.

Last Friday, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and London-based whistleblower site Sarawak Report published an article quoting ‘an unnamed investigator’ who claimed that RM2.6 billion of 1MDB’s money went into Najib’s personal bank accounts.

The Prime Minister’s Office responded by saying that the articles were “political sabotage” while the government investment company insisted that no funds had been transferred to Najib’s accounts.