YOURSAY | ‘You made one mistake. You can't control the institutions of governance overseas.’

Riza Aziz said US$94m siphoned from 1MDB was a 'gift', DOJ claims

GMK: First we have ‘donations’, now we have ‘gifts’. Malaysians indeed are a very fortunate lot, we receive lots of donations and gifts.

Of course, the Malaysian government is also generous enough to donate to those in other countries.

We do not need Aladdin’s lamp, we just need to open our mouths and an Arab will be generous enough to wire what you need.

Don't believe? Try it when you are the next Malaysian PM.

Cogito Ergo Sum: US$41 million in gambling expenses? We, the rakyat, bankrolled your alleged gambling losses through 1MDB funds? Even your step-grandfather would get a fatal hiccup if he were alive.

But you made one mistake. You can't control the institutions of governance overseas. You can't cover such a massive theft by returning the money that you don't have.

Vent: It will be a real leap of faith for the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to believe that US$94 million of 1MDB funds was a gift from Aabar BVI (fake Aabar) to PM Najib Razak’s stepson Riza Aziz.

But the real leap of faith must be for the mad mullahs at home that US$41 million of 1MDB funds was also used to cover gambling expenses for among others, Riza.

FairMind: Indeed, it was a ‘gift’ - from the unknowing citizens of Malaysia. Can it get more blatant than that?

1MDB paid money to a bogus company, a so-called ‘personal holding company of a family friend’.

Then this company ‘gifted’ a whopping amount of RM376 million to Riza, who has no business connection/relation with 1MDB except for a blood relation to ‘Malaysian Officer 1’. Then, this bogus company folded up soon after making the huge ‘gift’.

With all these new revelations, the attorney-general (AG) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have no choice but to re-open and pursue further investigation into the case.

Otherwise, it is a clear crime of abetting the alleged criminals.

Quigonbond: It's all gifts and donations for the family. If it is 1MDB money, it is taxpayer's money. I'm a taxpayer, and I didn't donate to Najib or his stepson.

Dont Just Talk: Wow, so the US$94,500,000 wire transfer on June 18, 2012 was intended as a gift to Riza and this must be from another rich Arab donor from a Middle East country.

A rich Arab donor wired US$681 million to Najib's personal account in Ambank and DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed meeting him.

Why are there so many rich Arabs who are so generous with their wealth?

Mojo Jojo: How convenient it is that only friends and relatives of ‘Malaysian Official 1' could receive 'gifts' of this size.

One Malaysia: Papa says it's a “donation” and stepson says “it's a gift”. And I say, “We, the Malaysian people are all fools” to believe them.

Red Granite denies 'knowingly used' stolen funds for film

Prudent: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US$1.367 billion was deposited into Aabar BVI’s account by 1MDB using money from the sale of bonds guaranteed by Malaysia.

Aabar BVI then transferred US$238 million into Red Granite's account in Singapore. No court of law, with the exception of Bolehland’s courts, will accept that Riza did not know where such a large amount of money came from and that he did not knowingly use stolen money.

SusahKes: Since you have nothing to hide, would you take appropriate steps to prove your innocence? Or would you come out with some legal mumbo-jumbo ala you-know-who?

Boeyks: Riza should use the ‘royal donor’ story, just like someone we know. The AG will buy it and it will be no case.

Riza should also have said he just doesn't know who the donor was except he found the money in his account to make all these purchases on top of all the good time gambling and partying with Jho Low and the two high-living Arabs.

TheAnonymous: With a handful of production companies in the US, why did they deliberately name you on their probe? There must be something they know that we don't.

Fairnsquare: Even a murderer will plead not guilty and wait for some technicality to escape justice.

But the Justice Department and FBI would not have even pursued the case without the necessary evidence since it involves a friendly country.

Hopeless Govt: If you listen to the recording of the press conference by the FBI and the Justice Department, they are not referring to the matter as allegations or as an alleged offence. They are referring to the matter as a fact.

Anonymous_1371563774: Deny all you want. You can't escape from the paper trails and transactions. Numbers don't lie.

Alunan Ombak: By now, we are aware of this response. Each and every one of the rogues involved directly or indirectly in the widespread, colossal 1MDB scandal either pleads ignorance or denies any wrongdoing.

Roger 5201: Say I unknowingly receive RM2.60 extra in my bank account, and I use it not knowing where it is from nor tell anyone about it, does this make it legal?

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.