Probe into another 1MDB-related scandal

PUTRAJAYA: Graft busters are investigating several people alleged to have been involved in corruption and money laundering while assisting the government in its efforts to recover 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) assets.

It is learnt that one of them, a lawyer, was alleged to have accepted some money during the asset recovery process.

“The money was then invested into an unlicensed investment company. In fact, Bank Negara had acted against this particular company in 2021,” said a source.

The same source said the lawyer was said to have previously been appointed by 1MDB to resolve its asset issues with overseas companies.

“Officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) were present at the said law firm today (yesterday) to obtain documents in relation to the investigation,” the source said.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that an investigation had been launched to look into the allegation.

He said his officers’ presence at the lawyer’s office was not a violation of any laws, and that his team was aware of the lawyer-client fiduciary relationship.

It was earlier reported that the MACC had raided the office of a “former prime minister’s lawyer”.

Twelve officers were said to have been involved in the raid and there were claims that they had demanded to search and seize documents from the office.

Earlier in the day, Azam also confirmed that the MACC has new leads in its investigation into the theft of rare earth elements (REE) in Kedah.

He said that in the course of its investigation, the commission had also engaged the services of experts to determine, through laboratory tests, the time and quantity of REE believed to have been stolen.

“Investigations are ongoing into corruption, abuse of power and breach of trust against the persons and the enforcement agencies involved,” he told Bernama yesterday.

However, he declined to comment further on the matter for fear that it would hamper the investigation.

In July, it was reported that 10 Kedah state executive council members were called up to give their statements to the MACC to assist in the investigation into the REE case.

It was also reported that a senior officer of Kedah Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and a woman, who is a director of a company, were arrested by the MACC to assist in the investigation of a case involving over RM13mil and illegal REE mining.