The recent disclosures of the alleged involvement of the family of former Malaysian Central Bank Governor in the 1MDB transfer of funds scandal has led to the question: Did the former Attorney-General (AG) lie when he said the MACC probe was not completed during his term in office?
In a recent posting, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) claims that the former AG Tommy Thomas lied about Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had not completed its probe on the former Malaysian central bank (BNM) governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz Zeti and her husband Tawfiq Ayman when he was still in office.
The UK-based controversial blogger, fondly known as RPK published a 14-page MACC report titled “Laporan Kes Ambank” (Ambank case report) in Malaysia Today on Sunday (05 Dec).
The MACC report shows it had completed the investigation in 2019.
“Tommy Thomas lied when he said the MACC had not completed their investigations yet during his time as AG but according to the MACC, the report had already been completed in 2019.
“In fact, former Attorney-General Tommy Thomas declared that Zeti and her husband had facilitated or helped to perpetuate the 1MDB heist. In other words, what Tommy Thomas is suggesting is that Zeti made all the stealing possible,” he wrote.
Thomas who was appointed as AG by Mahathir-led Pakatan Harapan goverment in 2018, quit in February 2020.
Thomas, in a recent interview, claimed he knew for a fact Zeti had facilitated fugitive financier Jho Teik Low or Jho Low on 1MDB but to his knowledge, MACC’s investigation papers had not been completed on Zeti and others while he was still serving as the AG.
Najib Razak’s Bank Account
According to RPK, the alleged documents also revealed details about the RM2.6 billion deposit in former prime minister Najib Razak’s bank account.
The RM2.6 billion deposit, which Najib said was a donation from the Saudi royal family, became the subject of controversy and subsequent action against Najib.
RPK also claimed that the head of a commercial bank had obtained approval from Zeti for the money to be brought into the country.
“The RM2.6 billion was brought into Malaysia with the full knowledge and prior consent of the BNM governor herself.
“Zeti had done due diligence on the source of funds to ensure the money was not obtained illegally before giving her approval.
“Clearly the whole truth has not been revealed and much has been hidden from Najib’s defence team and from the court,” he wrote, thereafter revealing the alleged MACC report which is classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
RPK had previously claimed that Zeti’s husband and sons received over RM100 million in funds from Jho Low, the mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal.
On 19 Nov, MACC said it managed to recover assets and funds linked to 1MDB amounting to RM20.5 billion, including the return of assets worth US$15.4 million (RM64.4 million) from a company co-owned by Tawfiq.
Najib on Wednesday (01 Dec), applied for the Court of Appeal to allow and to direct for viva voce evidence to be taken from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki, or essentially for the anti-corruption chief to be asked to give oral evidence about the SRC case.
Najib is also applying for further oral evidence to be taken from MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussein.
Azam has not testified, while Rosli previously testified as a witness.
With the disclosure of the OSA-classified document on the MACC probe, it is unclear whether the findings will be part of the evidence to be filed in.
The Appellate Court has set 07 Dec, the eve of the scheduled announcement on the outcome of the SRC case appeal, to hear Najib’s application to include fresh evidence in his appeal to overturn his sentence.
The application will be heard by a three-member bench, led by Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil at 9.00 am.
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