Traffic passes a 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard at the Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 6, 2015. REUTERS file photo
KUCHING: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has formed a special task force to investigate the 1MDB scandal as well as to prosecute wrongdoers and retrieve related assets, reported MalaysiaKini.
The news portal reported that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement saying that the task force would be jointly headed by former attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, former MACC head Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, current MACC head Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull and former police Special Branch head Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador.
“The team will consist of (personnel from the) MACC, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the police, Bank Negara and several lawyers who specialise in related matters.
“The task force will be responsible for coordinating investigations, detecting and retrieving assets from the misappropriation of 1MDB funds stashed or invested domestically and abroad,” the statement added.
The task force would also be seeking assistance from the US, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada and other countries.
“The government hopes that the task force – which involves various enforcement agencies – would be able to restore the nation’s pride, which has long been tarnished while recovering money and assets belonging to Malaysia as a result of kleptocracy involving wrongdoing and misappropriation of 1MDB funds,” the PMO said.
All four heads of the task force were part of investigations on 1MDB in 2015 before they were either removed from office or put into cold storage.