MACC files suits to recover 1MDB money
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has filed civil forfeiture suits against 41 individuals and entities to recover some RM270 million related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Its chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said the suits were filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 19 under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
She said it was done as the MACC believed that the monies were transferred to the 41 respondents from former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s bank account.
The 41 respondents comprise political parties, foundations and companies, including Umno, SUPP, Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sabah, MCA and the Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida), she told a press conference here yesterda.
Latheefa, however, said Najib was not one of the respondents.
She said Umno was the biggest recipient of the disbursed money as it received a total of RM212 million.
Latheefa said the application filed under the Act to forfeit properties and monies dispersed from 1MDB was also the biggest in the country’s history.
She said since the investigation into the 1MDB scandal commenced, the MACC had taken various efforts to recover the money and had so far retrieved RM919 million which were returned voluntarily, including cash and properties from overseas.
The receivers had voluntarily returned it to avoid prosecution or to minimise the action that can be taken against them, she said.
Latheefa said among the recently returned assets were by Red Granite and Park Lane Hotel, totalling RM130 million, which was made possible with the cooperation from the United States Department of Justice.
She said a special trust account called the “MOF Trust Account” had also been created to enable the voluntary return of the 1MDB money.
“The account was created since the investigation into the case began. It is for those (receivers) who decide to clear themselves and put back the money as soon as they realise there is something wrong,” she said, adding that up to date, 11 entities and individuals had returned the money.
Latheefa also said that all the respondents named yesterday were the third party in the 1MDB case and that the fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, was not one of them. – Bernama
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