US-based embassy officers to be quizzed over CIA letter leak

KUALA LUMPUR: Several officers based at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington will be called up in the investigation into the leaked letter to the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency, says the Inspector-General of Police.

Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said so far, police had recorded the statements of several persons of interest, including Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid, the former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) chief.

“We will wait for the officers based in Washington to return and we will record their statements.

“The investigation involves the leaked letter and other relevant police reports on the matter,” he told reporters after attending the Bukit Aman monthly assembly yesterday.

It was reported that on July 31, the veracity of the letter was confirmed by Hasanah’s lawyer Datuk Shahar­udin Ali, who said that this fell under the Official Secrets Act.

A police report was lodged, urging for an investigation into the leak.

Shaharudin had reportedly said that the MEIO was a covert intelligence agency set up in the 1960s and was known officially as the Research Division under the Prime Minister’s Office.

There were also police reports lodged against Hasanah, claiming that she had committed treason for sending the letter.

On another matter, Mohamad Fuzi said no one from Umno had come forward to claim the RM3.5mil allegedly taken by security personnel from the Prime Minister’s Office despite claims by former prime mini­ster Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that this belonged to the party.

He said so far, no party leaders had claimed the sum following the arrest of 17 security personnel last week.

“As far as we know, no one has come forward. However, the Malay­sian Anti-Corruption Commission is spearheading the investigation,” he said.

Mohamad Fuzi also lambasted those who spread lies claiming that the personnel arrested were from the police.