NAJIB CLEARED OVER $681 M SAUDI DONATION.
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak
has been cleared of corruption allegations concerning nearly $700
million dollars that ended up in his bank account. The conclusion of the
probe, which determined that the money came from Saudi royals, follows
months of controversy that rocked the Southeast Asian country's
political foundations.
Najib has been under investigation since The Wall Street Journal in July alleged that the millions came from companies tied to troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. The country's anti-graft agency later said the money came from a Middle Eastern donor but did not name names.
Now, the attorney general's office has decided there is no case against the prime minister.
"I am satisfied that ... the sum of $681 million transferred into the personal account of [Najib] between March 22, 2013, and April 10, 2013, is a personal donation to him from the Saudi royal family, which was given to him without any consideration," Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali told reporters.
He added that investigators found nothing to suggest the donation was "an inducement or reward" meant to influence Najib in his capacity as prime minister. The attorney general disclosed that Najib returned $620 million in August 2013 "because the sum was not utilized" but stopped short of saying how the other $61 million was spent.
Separately, Apandi cleared Najib of two other allegations: abuse of power in approving a government guarantee on a 4 billion ringgit loan to SRC International, and receiving money from the state company in his personal accounts.
The attorney general, who was appointed in July after these allegations emerged, said there is no evidence that Najib knew about the funds transferred to his accounts from SRC International, nor that he approved of them.
The Malaysian leader has denied any wrongdoing.
Najib has been under investigation since The Wall Street Journal in July alleged that the millions came from companies tied to troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. The country's anti-graft agency later said the money came from a Middle Eastern donor but did not name names.
Now, the attorney general's office has decided there is no case against the prime minister.
"I am satisfied that ... the sum of $681 million transferred into the personal account of [Najib] between March 22, 2013, and April 10, 2013, is a personal donation to him from the Saudi royal family, which was given to him without any consideration," Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali told reporters.
He added that investigators found nothing to suggest the donation was "an inducement or reward" meant to influence Najib in his capacity as prime minister. The attorney general disclosed that Najib returned $620 million in August 2013 "because the sum was not utilized" but stopped short of saying how the other $61 million was spent.
Separately, Apandi cleared Najib of two other allegations: abuse of power in approving a government guarantee on a 4 billion ringgit loan to SRC International, and receiving money from the state company in his personal accounts.
The attorney general, who was appointed in July after these allegations emerged, said there is no evidence that Najib knew about the funds transferred to his accounts from SRC International, nor that he approved of them.
The Malaysian leader has denied any wrongdoing.
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