Swiss A-G: Najib not a suspect in US$4bil probe

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) is not a suspect in the US$4bil probe into 1Malaysia Development Bhd, said the Office of the Attorney-General in Switzerland.

"In the ongoing criminal proceeding of the OAG, Mr. Najib Razak is not one of the public officials under accusation," Andre Marty, the spokesman for OAG, told the Nikkei Asian Review.

Marty added that the phrase "persons unknown" in Swiss law refers to  criminal proceedings where there is a reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed, but the accused is not known.

The OAG had opened criminal proceedings last August against two former 1MDB officials as well as "persons unknown."

Last week, Switzerland's chief prosecutor Attorney General Michael Lauber  said he had formally asked Malaysia for help with his probe into possible violations of Swiss law by 1MDB, saying suspected misappropriations amounted to about US$4bil.

Lauber said the request pertained to possible violations of Swiss laws related to bribery of foreign officials, misconduct in public office, money laundering and criminal mismanagement at 1MDB.

Lauber's statement came after A-G Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali absolved Najib of any criminal wrongdoing in the probe in SRC International Sdn Bhd and RM2.6bil political donation.

Apandi later responded to Lauber saying his office would take all possible steps to follow up and collaborate with Switzerland and we look forward to their investigations and materials through the normal channels.