1MDB asset recovery: MACC confirms probe against lawyer

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki has confirmed an ongoing investigation against a lawyer involved in the government’s efforts to recover 1MDB assets.

When contacted, he said the lawyer is one of several individuals being investigated under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Azam did not name the lawyer under investigation.

Malaysiakini earlier quoted sources who revealed that 12 officers from the anti-graft watchdog carried out a raid on law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana (RDS) this morning.

The source also pointed out that Rosli Dahlan, who is a partner of RDS, is the lead counsel for Bersatu and the opposition party’s president, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The source alleged that MACC officers demanded the right to search and seize documents of the firm and that earlier on, the enforcement officers also attempted to raid the law office of Chetan Jethwani & Co, which also acted for Muhyiddin.

In confirming the raid, Azam said, “MACC also denies the presence of its officers has gone against any law.

“This is because the MACC is cognisant of the law and understands the lawyer’s and client’s privilege,” he said.

Unlicensed investments

Separately, another source close to MACC said the unnamed lawyer is alleged to have received an amount of bribe money said to have been invested in a company that carried out unlicensed investment activities and was subjected to a Bank Negara action in 2021.

“The MACC officers were present at the law firm today to seek documents in relation to the investigation,” said the source.

The source added that the lawyer was previously appointed by 1MDB to help recover its stolen assets.

For the record, in 2021, Rosli denied allegations of receiving kickbacks from Goldman Sachs’ RM16.63 billion settlement with 1MDB and the government over the investment bank’s role in the 1MDB scandal.

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1MDB’s financial obligations stand at RM31.6b as of end-June 2022