PETALING JAYA: Attorney-General Apandi Ali has cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of any offences pertaining to the RM2.6 billion “donation” and the RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
In a hurriedly gathered press conference, Apandi announced that he had thoroughly studied the papers submitted to him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and ordered the cases closed.
“I am satisfied that based on the evidence from witnesses and supporting documents submitted to me by the MACC, it shows that the sum of USD681 million (RM2.08 billion) transferred into the personal accounts of the PM between 22.03.2013 and 10.04.2013 is a personal donation to the PM by the Saudi Royal family.
“Evidence obtained from the investigation does not show that the donation was given as an inducement or reward for doing anything in relation to his (Najib’s) capacity as PM,” he said.
Apandi said the fact that the MACC had met and recorded statements from witnesses, including the donor, also confirmed that the donation was given personally and not given as a form of gratification, or given corruptly.
Apandi also said that Najib had on August 2013 returned a sum of USD620 million (RM2.03billion) back to the Saudi royal family as the sum was not utilised.
The AG also cleared Najib on the charge of receiving RM42 million from SRC International, saying there was “no evidence to show that the PM had abused his position during the cabinet meeting which approved the government guarantee on the RM4 billion loan to SRC from Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP)”.
“Evidence also shows that the loan approved by KWAP and the loan guarantee by the cabinet was properly done [and there is] no evidence to show the PM had solicited or was promised any gratification from any party, either before, during, or after the cabinet decision was made,” he said.
He summarized that MACC’s investigation did not show that the PM had committed any act of corruption.
Thus, he said there was no necessity for Malaysia to make a request for mutual legal assistance to any foreign state for the purpose of completing the criminal investigation by the MACC.
It was previously reported that Apandi had sent the investigation papers on both cases back to the MACC, requesting additional information on suggestions and recommendations made by them.
The RM2.6 billion came to light following a report by the Wall Street Journal that alleged the sum was channeled into Najib’s personal bank accounts just before the general election of 2013.
The report also claimed the money had come from 1Malaysia Development Bhd although the MACC, after investigating the matter, denied this.
Najib later revealed that the money was a political donation given to him by “someone from the Middle East” to help him and Barisan Nasional win in the 13th General Election.
It was also alleged that Najib had received RM42 million from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB before it was placed under the Finance Ministry in 2012.
The Finance Minister, however, denied the sum was banked into his account.
Earlier this month, former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad predicted Apandi would ignore the MACC’s report on the donation and SRC International and that nothing significant would come out of the investigations.