The US Department of Justice has moved to seize more than $1bn (£761m) from Malaysia’s state fund 1MDB.
The department alleges the funds were “misappropriated” and though it did not name Prime Minister Najib Razak directly, he is identifiable in the suit as someone whose account allegedly received huge sums.
He has in the past denied wrongdoing.
Mr Najib set up 1MDB in 2009 to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub, but it missed debt payments in 2015.
The US justice department alleges the “misappropriated” funds financed lavish lifestyles of “multiple individuals including public officials”.
There is no allegation that Mr Najib spent any of the money but people close to him are accused of using billions of dollars to buy jewellery, art and luxury properties; pay gambling expenses; and hire musicians and celebrities to attend parties.
The court papers, filed in Los Angeles, allege that money was laundered through accounts in the US. If successful the US justice department would seize assets, including property in the US, UK and Switzerland.
The $1bn would only make up a proportion of the money that was allegedly diverted, which comes to more than $3.5bn (£2.6bn).
Mr Najib’s stepson, Riza Aziz- who produced the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Wolf of Wall Street – is named in the court papers, as are a Malaysian financier and two Abu Dhabi government officials.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said the government would “fully co-operate with any lawful investigation of Malaysian companies or citizens in accordance with international protocols”.
“As the prime minister has always maintained, if any wrongdoing is proven, the law will be enforced without exception.”
The fund started to attract attention in early 2015 when it missed payments for the $11bn it owed to banks and bondholders.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported it had seen a paper trail that allegedly traced close to $700m from the troubled fund to Mr Najib’s personal bank accounts.
1MDB said in a statement last year that it had never given money to the prime minister and called the claims “unsubstantiated”. It has repeatedly stated that the company has assets worth more than its debts.
Mr Najib has denied taking money from 1MDB or any public funds. Earlier this year he was officially cleared of wrongdoing by the country’s attorney general.
First it was the money was a donation and now the step son has learnt his trick and it is claiming over 70 millions dollars is a gift. How come these people are so so lucky to have such generous friends ? Friends who can give away millions of dollars, or should I ask one just one question are there truly such generous people around ?
If indeed there are such generous people around why do they need to work or scheme so hard for a few dollars ? Sorry to say the end of the road has come too soon, it should be after the shenanigan half breed or should I say Umno made Malay Mahathir is no longer around to witness the disintegration of Umno. But I suppose Allah should know what is best !
Someone asks if the AG is the lawyer of Najib or the people’s prosecutor ?
Remember his present role as AG is appointed by the PM, isn’t he obliged to stand behind the PM ? What would you do if you are appointed by the PM ? He is just trying to protect Najib, look what happened to the former AG. He got ‘retired’ just 3 months before he is due to retire, it won’t be long before the true reason for his earlier retirement will be known. In fact many changes like the AG, IGP, and the entire cabinet members will be replaced soon very soon after Najib is no longer around as PM.
And do not be surprise if some, if not all the above mentioned lackeys will seek refuge in a third country. Of course the most convenient country to immigrate to is Perth in Australia just like the over 20,000 former strongmen of UMNO ! Why do yo think Najib and Rosmah need to carry 15 bags or more when they went on a one day trip ? They can’t transfer millions of dollars without leaving a trace behind and the only way not to leave any trace behind is to carry bags loaded of cash with them besides who is going to check what they are supposed to carry !
Just how long can this monkey business go on ? To be exact since this repugnant Mahathir became the PM billions, not millions, are taken away or gone missing from the national coffer. How long can this saga go on Umno has become so bold that their presidents are accused of taking away not millions but billions ? Or will this quicken the pace for Malaysia to go bankrupt ? And finally will or the ministers and the Umno lackeys be around to face the consequences when the crucial time comes around especially the shenanigan Mahatir ?
Nothing , I reiterate nothing, will make Najib to resign. Right now his entire life, fortune, his family are dependent on his vey survival as the PM of Malaysia. Without this position he is finished. Again right now he can parachute his cronies into position that can ensure his very survival.
Can you imagine you or anyone in the same situation will react differently, the only thing he has not done yet is swearing on the Koran that he has not done any wrong doing. The surprising thing this time round he is talking, unlike before his tactic is not to say anything at all. Surely this also applies to all the cronies appointed to his cabinet for two reasons. First is shut their mouth and secondly to get their support. Now you should know why he has such a bloated cabinet when half of them are not needed and most of all doing nothing.
And once he has lost the rights to appoint them as ministers, AG, IGP and so on and so forth. He is finished, therefore at any cost he will clinch on the post as the PM, no amount of pressure from the just as guilty half breed Mahathir he will come to the end of the road for him. Believe me he will not be around in Malaysia, not even for a second, because he must know where he will be and what his fate would be. Once more he would hang on with his life just to be the PM and for as long as possible in spite of the many revelations made against him. He surely must have already a plan where he will be when he is finally cornered which must not be far away. This must not take place with the half breed mamak still alive and around !
You have to be a new born not to know who is MO1, it certainly wasn’t referring to the half breed Mahathir nor was it referring to the rabid mad dog LKS. He is only trying to think he is the MO! , not even in a million years would he be MO1 2 or 3 or even 4. Although he is trying to allude himself that he could be the one, he should be thankful that his son has become the CM of Penang through default. But the illusion will soon end because the son is going to jail !
Najib is now coming up with a thousand lies just to cover the first lie he came up with. He must know this will happen but he still has my blessing for whatever he is doing, not because he is right but because the half breed Mahathir MUST be punished, tormented and repay for all the atrocities he did during his 22 years tenure as PM. This is surely why his endless endeavours to topple are not going anywhere but the more he tries the bitter he will be and this is what he will get !
The former law minister Zaid said that the former DPM of Indonesian parents will be the PM in the party that the half breed Mahathir is organization. But he did not mention who will be the deputy PM if the party is being elected, of course you don’t need the brain of a varsity student to know that the aim of this exercise of Mahathir is for his son first to become the DPM, after all the cow is about to kick the bucket and the son will then become the PM.
I have always the greatest respect for this former law minister but after this proposal I am having a second thought. Surely a known devil and is better than a unknown son of Satan and most of all son of this father of Satan ? Just remember the shambles we are in to day is the result of all the atrocities of this father of the devil, don’t forget once beaten twice shy !