PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was neither named as a defendant nor alleged to have committed any criminal wrongdoing in the United States Department of Justice lawsuits with regard to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), said Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
Mohamed Apandi also expressed his strong concerns at the insinuations and allegations that had been made against the Prime Minister, of alleged criminal wrongdoing in relation to the civil action in rem filed by the US DOJ.
“The Attorney-General intends to clarify that at no point in the civil claim filed by the US DOJ is the Prime Minister named as a defendant or alleged to have committed any criminal wrongdoing,” he said in a press statement today.
He said there was an ongoing investigation by the Royal Malaysia Police concerning matters related to 1MDB.
“Given that the investigation is underway, it would not be appropriate to divulge details that may compromise the investigation. The Attorney-General must emphasise that it is crucial to preserve the integrity of the investigation as the public must not doubt the outcome of the investigation,” said Mohamed Apandi.
Mohamed Apandi said the Attorney-General’s Chambers had yet to receive any request from the US DOJ to obtain any information or evidence.
“However, we would welcome such a request in line with our commitment in international cooperation and collaboration in our fight against money laundering and corrupt practices,” he said.
The Attorney-General stressed that as the Public Prosecutor, he will not hesitate to initiate proceedings against the perpetrators of criminal acts provided there was sufficient evidence to do so.
“Any wrongdoing must and will be punished. Malaysia will always uphold the rule of law,” he said.
The Attorney-General noted that a civil action in rem had been filed by the US DOJ for the forfeiture of relevant assets and that it was a matter within the civil court in the United States.
“The Attorney-General noted that the basis of the civil action in rem to forfeit assets undertaken by the US DOJ was related to the alleged laundering of money misappropriated from 1MDB. However, the Attorney-General emphasised that to date:
(i) there had been no evidence from any investigation conducted by any law enforcement agencies in various jurisdictions which showed that money had been misappropriated from 1MDB; and
(ii) there have been no criminal charges preferred against any individuals for the offence of misappropriation of funds from 1MDB. -BERNAMA