Drop Najib's IPIC charges if leaked memo is genuine, Zahid urges AGC

KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General’s Chambers must review the charges thrown at Datuk Seri Najib Razak following a purported leaked memo suggesting the government drop his 1MDB case, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno president said if the leaked memo is found to be genuine, Najib must get the justice he deserves.

“I believe that the AGC should review the charges thrown at Najib.

“If the memo is genuine, I am confident the AGC will take immediate action by dropping the charges,” the Deputy Prime Minister said at a press conference during the Jualan Desa Madani programme at Menara MARA here Monday (Aug 28).

Ahmad Zahid said this when asked whether Umno would press on the AGC to give an immediate response as to whether or not the leaked memo is genuine.

The alleged leaked 12-page internal memo from the AGC was reportedly addressed to former AG Tan Sri Tommy Thomas dated Sept 10, 2019.

In it, the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) prosecution team reportedly expressed its concerns that a strong prima facie case could not be built for the six charges against Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Irwan Serigar at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on October 25, 2018.

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysians, including Umno leaders and members, are putting their trust in the AGC to deliver justice while describing Najib’s charges as “persecution” of the former prime minister.

“The AGC must prioritise justice and we are confident of the AGC’s credibility and capability to review and do something positive so that Najib will truly be given justice,” he added.

The said case referred to the charges against the former prime minister and Irwan at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Oct 25, 2018.

The two were jointly charged with six charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code for CBT amounting to RM6.6bil in government funds involving payments to IPIC.

On Dec 7, 2018, the case was transferred to the High Court.

On Aug 17, Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun told The Star that the AGC was investigating the matter but stopped short of confirming the authenticity of the memo.