NFA for Apandi: Lawyer asks why cops ended 1MDB probe within months

Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo has questioned the transparency of the government’s investigations into former attorney-general Apandi Ali, after a police probe into the latter’s role in the 1MDB scandal was classified as “no further action” (NFA).

On Jan 27, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed in a written parliamentary reply that the investigation papers towards Apandi (above), initially launched in July 2022, had been closed and classified as NFA on Oct 5 that same year.

In a statement today, Sangeet expressed serious concerns on the matter, saying a civil court had already substantiated evidence of Apandi’s inappropriate handling of the 1MDB scandal, including his calling off the MACC’s investigations against Najib Abdul Razak, and dismissing calls for the former prime minister to be charged.

“This is not a small matter, yet police reports arising from these findings were investigated and closed as NFA within just a few months without any clear public explanation,” she said.

“In a civil defamation suit brought by a private individual, the courts recognised that serious and legitimate questions were being raised about the closure of the 1MDB investigations.

“Were police investigations into this carried out with the same level of scrutiny? This government must provide details as to what was really investigated and also explain why this investigation was conducted and closed with such haste,” she added.

Apandi, a former Federal Court judge, was appointed attorney-general by Najib in 2015 to replace Abdul Gani Patail, who had suddenly been removed from office.

This was the start of a series of moves by Apandi over the next three years, from 2015 to 2018, which hindered investigations into 1MDB and shielded Najib, including shutting down probes against the former prime minister.

READ MORE: What about Apandi's role in 1MDB scandal?

Years of no updates

In May 2022, Apandi lost a defamation suit against DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, over an opinion piece which the former said insinuated he was involved in the 1MDB financial scandal, that he was an unethical person with no morals and integrity, and had abused his power when he was attorney-general.

The High Court ruled that Lim was justified in raising the issue after Najib’s conviction in the SRC International case. The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

The High Court decision also paved the way for the police probe against Apandi in July 2022.

However, up until Saifuddin’s recent revelation, there had been no public updates about the investigation.

In December, Sangeet and former Klang MP Charles Santiago questioned the status of the probe into Apandi after the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib guilty on all four counts of abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges linked to the 1MDB scandal.

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