The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has been advised to continue investigating SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion ‘donation’. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 24, 2016. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was today advised to make public statements on their investigations into SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion that was channelled into the prime minister's personal accounts.
The advice, from MACC's Operations Review Panel, included continuing with investigations into the RM2.6 billion “donation” despite an earlier order by Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali to the anti-graft commission to close the investigation.
In a statement released by MACC this afternoon, the panel also said investigators should seek Apandi’s assistance in issuing a mutual legal assistance to enable MACC to obtain evidence and documents from financial institutions based overseas.
Apandi on January 26 said there was insufficient evidence to charge Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the RM2.6 billion donation and SRC International, a Finance Ministry-owned firm which was reportedly the company from which part of the donation had originated before it flowed through other companies and ended up in Najib's personal bank accounts.
Apandi also said there was no evidence that Najib, as finance minister, abused his power in that capacity in relation to a loan taken by SRC International from pensions fund KWAP.
The attorney-general had also explained that since there was insufficient evidence, there was no need to proceed with a request for mutual legal assistance from overseas financial authorities and banks for the MACC's unfinished probe into the RM2.6 billion.
MACC had recorded statements from more than 100 witnesses, including Najib, over the donation.
The agency opened investigations following reports in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Sarawak Report in July last year alleging that of the RM2.6 billion donation, RM42 million had originated from SRC International, a subsidiary of Najib’s brainchild, 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
This was according to documents on the money trail provided by Malaysian investigators, WSJ and Sarawak Report said.
A larger tranche of US$681 million was also transferred into Najib’s accounts, originating from a British Virgin Islands company and going through Falcon Private Bank in Singapore.
Apandi said most of the donation, or US$620 million, was returned by Najib to the Saudi donor as it was not utilised. – February 24, 2016.
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