Malaysia’s attorney-general had earlier this week cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak, who chairs the 1MDB advisory board, of any criminal offences or corruption regarding deposits into his personal bank account.
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“1MDB remains committed to fully cooperating with any lawful authority and investigation, subject to advice from the relevant domestic lawful authorities, and in accordance with worldwide protocols governing such matters”, it said in a statement, Bernama reported.
This prompted speculation that Najib was a suspect in the Swiss AG’s probe, given the timing of the foreign request on January 29, several days after Malaysian AG, Mohd Apandi Ali, cleared the prime minister of all wrongdoing in the case of a RM2.6 billion donation and RM42 million from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
The bulk of the money flowed from the Swiss bank account of a British Virgin Islands-based company before a close Malaysian election in 2013, the Malaysian government said.
Singapore past year froze two bank accounts as part of its investigation into possible money-laundering offences related to 1MDB.
Malaysia’s attorney general said last week the money that entered Najib’s accounts was a legal “personal donation” from Saudi Arabia’s royal family and ordered Malaysia’s antigraft agency to end its investigation.
External investigations into 1MDB have indicated that $4 billion, earmarked for investment in economic and social development projects in Malaysia, may have been misappropriated from state-own companies. 1MDB has denied these allegations.
Switzerland’s top prosecutor has sought Malaysia’s help after an investigation confirmed that some money was transferred into accounts held in Switzerland.
Genting and Tanjong did not answer calls seeking comment.
1MDB said Saturday it hasn’t been contacted by any foreign agency but it is willing to cooperate.
The move relieved some mounting pressure for Razak to step down as prime minister over the corruption allegations.
The Malaysian attorney general’s office dismissed the central bank’s requests, which alleged that 1MDB breached the Exchange Control Act.
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The attorney-general added that due to the lack of criminal involvement in the case, he would not pursue further action against the Malaysian head of government.
