Many believe the ring-fence imposed by the Cabinet, and willingly accepted by the IGP, was nothing more than a strategy to make Shahrol the scapegoat, he added. “It appears he will be blamed for the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scam.”
He noted that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar disclosed on Friday that police have completed the first phase of investigations into 1MDB. “Khalid said it’s restricted, as ordered by the Cabinet, to PAC’s five recommendations.”
The five PAC recommendations, as pointed out by DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang, has nothing to do with police investigations, agreed Pua. “They relate to the corporate reorganisation of the heavily indebted company.”
For example, said Pua, the PAC recommended the 1MDB Board of Advisors be dissolved, the Ministry of Finance assume ownership of the property assets and that 1MDB “should avoid excessive debt”.
So, continued the MP, it clearly appears that Shahrol will be made a scapegoat to ease pressure on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. “The Prime Minister failed to take any concrete action for the losses 1MDB suffered.”
The UK Guardian named 1MDB the “world’s largest financial scandal”, pointed out Pua.
The powers that be hope that with Shahrol’s incarceration, a mere pawn, they would be able to wash their hands on the scandal, he lamented. “They want to close the lid on the ugliest chapter of Malaysia’s history.”
However, by doing so, the police would once again make complete fools of themselves, warned Pua. “This is no different from the Altantuya murder scandal in 2006.”
Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, members of the elite Unit Tindakan Khas were found guilty of murdering the Mongolian woman, he reminded. “However, no motive was ever presented by police and prosecution.”
“No motive was found by the court and they were condemned to death.”
In 1MDB’s case, if only Shahrol were to be charged and found guilty, Pua said a similar question could be asked, what motive was there for Shahrol to carry out a multi-billion dollar global embezzlement exercise.
Shahrol, referred to as “1MDB Officer 2” in the US Department of Justice (DoJ) suit to seize USD1 billion of laundered 1MDB assets, was never disclosed as an individual beneficiary of the stolen funds, argued Pua.
The beneficiaries of the loot were Low Taek Jho, Riza Aziz, Khadem Al-Qubaisi and Mohammad Badawy Al-Husseiny.
In addition, said Pua, a “Malaysian Official 1” received a whopping USD731 million from the embezzled proceeds.
In any case, the MP agrees that Shahrol was guilty of participating and facilitating the massive scam. “It was about defrauding the.people.”
He should be charged for abetting “the heinous crime”, demanded Pua. “However, he is but a cog in the wheel of the 1MDB scandal.”
1MĎB may be the greatest travesty of justice, similar to the Altantuya murder, said Pua. “The real conspirators and crooks, who had benefited immensely from the crimes, are scot free.”