“We are talking about the robbery of the century involving billions of ringgit. Anyone and everyone who was involved, whoever they are, must be brought to justice,” said Klang MP Charles Santiago.
Key to the contention against the US government is a bid by lawyers to get information on the names of other high-profile individuals involved in the siphoning of funds in the multi-billion ringgit scandal and who the beneficiaries were.
Earlier today, FMT reported that lawyers for former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng have accused US authorities of interfering in Najib’s trial to keep out of his reach evidence which could help his case.
They also claim that the government was working with Goldman Sachs to actively suppress evidence of others who may have worked out their own corrupt deals using 1MDB money.
Ng is himself a former Goldman Sachs banker who was extradited to the US to face trial over 1MDB linked charges. He is awaiting trial in the eastern district of New York on charges of laundering 1MDB funds.
Speaking to FMT, Santiago said that while the claims by Ng’s lawyers needed to be verified, there was no question that transparency was needed.
“I don’t know if what Ng’s lawyers are saying is true or whether this is part of their legal strategy. But whoever was involved must be exposed,” he said.
Santiago said that if there was evidence implicating other high-profile individuals who were involved in the 1MDB scandal, this should be revealed.
He said both the US and Malaysian authorities need to respond to Ng’s lawyers’ claim in the interest of transparency and justice.
Najib’s trial on 25 charges relating to abuse of power and money laundering of RM2.6 billion in 1MDB-linked funds is well underway, with the prosecution’s tenth witness testifying now.
Former Transparency International Malaysia president Ramon Navaratnam said the Malaysian public had the right to know the truth regarding the 1MDB scandal as it involved taxpayers’ money.
“The US authorities need to be open and transparent. Our government and the judiciary should insist on transparency and for all relevant evidence to be presented.”
Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, the chairman of Parti Sosialis Malaysia said he believed the alleged withholding of evidence was to protect corporate interests.
“I do not think it is to fix or trap Najib from getting information but to protect rich corporations. It seems like a pro-corporate decision,” he told FMT.