Bukit Aman: Tawfiq’s case over 1MDB referred to AG’s Chambers

KUALA LUMPUR: Investigators have identified documents and witness statements needed to probe the case involving Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman.

Tawfiq, the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, is being investigated over allegations he received funds related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said a team of investigators had a series of meetings with their counterparts from the Singapore Commercial Affairs Department between March 29 and 31.

"They gave us their full cooperation during our meetings.

"Based on these meetings, we have identified documents and witness statements needed for our probe," he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 12).

He said, however, to ensure these documents and statements could be used in court, it had to go through the process of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC).

"We have referred the case to the AGC for further action under MLA," he said.

It was reported in March that several witnesses in Singapore have agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into 1MDB, involving Tawfiq.

Comm Mohd Kamarudin was quoted saying several witnesses would be interviewed, including bank officers.

Tawfiq is also being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in an ongoing probe.

Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said his agency’s task in the matter was to repatriate funds from Singapore, while the police were conducting the criminal probe.

In March last year, it was reported that Tawfiq was being investigated by the police after 1MDB-linked funds were said to have been transferred to his Singapore-based bank account.

The case is being probed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Prevention of Financing of Terrorism and Proceeds From Illegal Activities Act 2001.

In November, the MACC revealed that Singapore had repatriated US$15.4mil (RM64.3mil) in 1MDB-linked funds that involved Tawfiq’s company to Malaysia.