Apandi: Bar’s call on DoJ action makes no sense
Attorney-general says he is unable to comment on ‘senseless’ statement by Malaysian Bar that claims by US Department of Justice be investigated in Malaysia as well.
PETALING JAYA: Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali has scoffed at the Malaysian Bar for their senseless talk in calling on the government not to sweep aside or absolve anyone implicated in the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) allegations over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue.
“What and how do I comment on this when the Bar makes a statement that does not make sense?” he told FMT today.
Bar president George Varughese had yesterday said Apandi should contact the DoJ to request for relevant information it possessed on the civil suits that it had filed to seize assets said to be purchased with 1MDB funds.
He said although the allegations remain unproven until judgment is delivered by the US courts, it was critical that they also be investigated comprehensively and objectively in Malaysia in the interest of transparency, accountability and good governance.
“Without having done so, it is premature for the government to disregard these allegations, or exonerate any individual or company of any wrongdoing,” Varughese had said.
“The integrity and credibility of our financial institutions and regulatory bodies, in the eyes of the nation as well as the global audience, rest on the Malaysian government’s response,” he added
On June 16, Apandi dismissed the latest suit filed by the DoJ the day before to seize US$540 million (RM2.3 billion) in assets.
He called it a repeat of last July’s filing in which Washington sought to confiscate more than US$1 billion (RM4.28 billion) in connection with the sovereign wealth fund.
He said neither Malaysian nor international authorities investigating 1MDB had furnished any evidence of misappropriated funds.
“1MDB… has been the subject of multiple investigations within Malaysia, including by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, auditor general and bi-partisan Public Accounts Committee (PAC). After review, we found that no crime was committed,” he said, adding that Malaysian police investigation was still ongoing.
He added that investigations carried out by the DoJ had also failed to provide any evidence of misappropriated funds.
Also on June 16, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar had said Malaysian police would not “interfere” in the DoJ investigation as it was a civil action.
US moves to seize another US$540 million in 1MDB scandal
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