malaysia

MACC found no corruption by Najib in SRC probe, says minister

BY ANISAH SHUKRY
March 10, 2016

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said says MACC has cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing in its probe into SRC International. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 10, 2016.The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it did not detect any corruption committed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak in its investigation into SRC International, according to Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The minister in the Prime Minister's Department said in a written parliamentary reply that MACC also confirmed the RM2.6 billion Najib received was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.

"In relation to the RM2.6 billion case, the testimony from the witnesses and supporting documents, MACC confirmed the donation to the prime minister was personally made by the Arab royal family.

"With regard to the SRC International case, MACC has said that the results of their investigation did not show that the prime minister had committed any corrupt practice," wrote Azalina.

Azalina added that Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali was satisfied Najib had not committed any wrongdoing in both cases, after perusing the outcome of MACC's probe.

She said this in response to PAS's Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar's question on the results of MACC's investigation into the donation and SRC International.

Mahfuz had also wanted to know the recommendations the anti-graft commission had made to the A-G over the two cases.

Despite Azalina's reply, a member of the MACC review panel, Lim Chee Wee, previously said the A-G was wrong to order the anti-graft body to close investigations. 

Lim had also said the A-G had not facilitated MACC's request to access foreign bank statements through the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA), to check on the RM2.6 billion money trail.

Meanwhile, Azalina gave a similar answer to a separate question from DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who had asked whether the A-G had probed the money trail from SRC International to Najib's accounts.

On Tuesday, Najib had said in a written parliamentary reply that SRC International had no information on the funds that were reportedly deposited into his personal accounts.

On January 26, Apandi said Najib had not committed any wrongdoing after having examined the investigation papers involving SRC International and the RM2.6 billion donation. 

This was because Najib was unaware SRC International had transferred money into his accounts, and was under the impression the funds were part of the donation he received from the Saudi royal family, said Apandi.

However, the MACC in a statement last month said it was advised by the review panel to continue with investigations into the RM2.6 billion donation.  – March 10, 2016.