MACC expected to submit investigation papers on Zeti to AGC

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is expected to submit to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) its investigation papers on the alleged link between former Bank Negara governor, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz (pic), and 1MDB funds.

MACC will also submit the investigation papers on Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, a former Finance Minister, to the AGC, said online portal FMT quoting a highly placed source.

FMT said the MACC investigation came following police investigations into Zeti’s family, with sources saying the MACC report would also be handed over to the police, who were also investigating Zeti’s husband, Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman.

On Jan 23, a Mingguan Malaysia report quoted a source that said that police were also investigating Tawfiq over allegations that he received funds related to 1MDB.

"The case has been completed with proposed charges under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Prevention of Financing of Terrorism and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001 in the near future," the source told Mingguan Malaysia.

The source reportedly added that the agency's investigation focused more on the receipt of money into Tawfiq's account in Singapore after RM5bil was raised by 1MDB in 2009 via the Ambank Group.

According to Utusan Malaysia’s report, the matter was exposed when the MACC sought to recover 1MDB's assets both locally and abroad involving several "big names" associated with sovereign wealth fund.

"Among the 1MDB's assets abroad such as in Switzerland, Kuwait, Mauritius, Cyprus and Hong Kong are worth RM20.5bil," said the report.

"The involvement of these individuals was identified when the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of Singapore on Nov 12, returned the money belonging to the former CEO of SRC International Sdn Bhd, Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil to the Malaysian Government through the Asset Recovery Trust Account of the Finance Ministry worth RM3,617,513.91 (US$864,813.27)," it added.

The Malay daily noted that earlier, Singapore returned the assets of RM64.42mil (US$15.4mil) involving the Cutting Edge Industries Ltd account owned by Tawfiq and his business partner Samuel Goh.

On the investigation on Zeti and Nor Mohamed, the source quoted said that the MACC was investigating allegations of misconduct with the report noting that every investment involving 1MDB funds at that time was definitely in Nor Mohamed's knowledge.

The Malay daily added that the source said MACC was investigating the individuals under the MACC Act 2009 and the Money Laundering Act 2001.

It added that when contacted, MACC Money Laundering Division director, Mohammad Zamri Zainul Abidin, confirmed receiving a complaint from a non-governmental organisation urging that an investigation be carried out on Zeti and Nor Mohamed on Dec 22.

"According to Zamri, his party also received a report made by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in October last year against former Goldman Sachs senior manager, Tim Leissner," said the Malay daily, as Zamri confirmed that an investigation has been carried out on the two complaints.