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Kit Siang wants to know if Latheefa will probe Apandi
Published:  Jun 14, 2019 9:33 AM
Updated: 4:49 AM

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang wants to know if newly minted MACC chief Latheefa Koya will investigate former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

Lim claimed to have learned that an MACC officer had lodged a report against Apandi in January 2016 for abuse of power and conflict of interest.

This was in relation to Apandi clearing then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak of any wrongdoing in regard to the 1MDB and SRC International scandals.

However, Lim said, this report was never fully investigated by the MACC then.

He said the report was again brought to the attention of then MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull on May 19, 2018.

Malaysiakini has contacted Shukri for a response.

"Among other criminal acts both Najib and Apandi had committed was the offence under Section 16, MACC Act - Najib offering the post of attorney-general to Apandi, and Apandi accepting the post, as an inducement to clear Najib of corruption charges and to stop further investigation against him.

"Under the law, gratification includes any office or employment and Apandi did accept the post of AG and subsequently cleared Najib of all corruption offences," Lim said.

He said Latheefa could shed some light on whether a probe would be re-opened when she meets the Parliamentary Select Committee on Major Appointments next week.

On June 3, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador confirmed that a police report lodged against Apandi would be investigated.

The report was lodged by DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng, who said Apandi should be investigated for his alleged role in covering up the 1MDB scandal.

In July 2015, Najib appointed Apandi as the attorney-general to replace Abdul Gani Patail, who was then heading a special task force to investigate the billions in the former premier's bank accounts.

Najib was being investigated for receiving RM2.6 billion (US$681 million), purportedly a political donation from the Saudi royal family, as well as RM42 million originating from SRC International.

Although Gani was said to have been replaced on health grounds, speculation was rife that he was on the verge of charging Najib for corruption.

In clearing Najib of the RM2.6 billion donation scandal, Apandi said he was satisfied, based on evidence from witnesses and supporting documents submitted by MACC, that the original sum of US$681 million transferred between March 22 and April 10, 2013, was a "personal donation from the Saudi royal family given to him (Najib) without any consideration".

As for the RM42 million from SRC, Apandi declared that Najib had no knowledge, nor was he informed, that the funds were transferred into his accounts in late 2014 and early 2015.

Najib has since been slapped with 42 charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering including over the RM2.6 billion "donation".

He is currently on trial for seven of the charges involving SRC International.

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