MACC has completed its probe into the involvement of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in the purchase of Scorpene submarines, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low.
“MACC had conducted an investigation on Abdul Razak (Baginda) under MACC Act 2009,” he said in a parliamentary reply.
Low was responding to a question from Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) on whether MACC will probe the political analyst in light of being charged in a French court last July.
“Will the Malaysian government cooperate with the French prosecutor to extradite him to France?” she asked.
Low maintained, however, that Malaysia has yet to receive any request for assistance involving Razak Baginda from another country.
The French probe into Scorpene commenced in 2010 after a complaint was lodged by Malaysian human rights group Suaram.
The case concerns Malaysia’s purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines for around €1 billion from France’s Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN), which allegedly involved kickbacks.
Razak Baginda, a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, admitted to receiving around €30 million (RM137 million) from French company Thales for lobbying work, but denied using it to bribe Malaysian officials.
Last month, MACC said it would seek clarification with the French embassy with regard to the status of Razak Baginda in the Scorpene case.
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