AG's decision hasty, difficult to justify: Bar Council

PETALING JAYA: The attorney-general's decision to exonerate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak of any wrongdoing on the transfer of RM2.6 billion into his personal bank accounts appears premature and lacking in facts, the Bar Council said today.
In a media statement, its president Steven Thiru said the Bar Council is gravely concerned over the decision of Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali on the three investigation papers submitted to him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) concerning SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC) and the transfer of US$681 million (the purported donation) into the personal bank accounts of Najib.
Steven said although the MACC had requested Mohamed Apandi to ask for documents and statements from individuals from several overseas financial institutions under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2002 to ascertain the veracity of evidence already collated in Malaysia, the AG refused to do so, on the basis that he had discovered no criminal offences in relation to the purported donation.
"In the circumstances, the AG's decision that no criminal offences have been committed in respect of MACC's investigation papers is hasty and difficult to justify," he said.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Straits Times has reported that the name of a private banker linked to businessman Low Taek Jho has emerged in ongoing investigations by authorities in the city-state into bank accounts linked to alleged financial mismanagement at 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The daily reported today that Yak Yew Chee, a senior private banker with BSI Singapore, a Swiss bank, was the relationship manager for Low, 1MDB Global Investment Ltd, Aabar Investment PJS Ltd and SRC.
According to the article, which quoted sources, several of the banker's accounts amounting to RM10 million had been frozen since last September as part of investigations into 1MDB Global.
The office of the AG of Switzerland (OAG), which on Friday alleged that around US$4 billion (RM16.56 billion) had been misappropriated by Malaysian companies following investigations into 1MDB, has confirmed that Najib is not a suspect in the probe.
The Nikkei Asian Review quoted a spokesman for the OAG as saying that Najib is not one of the public officials under probe.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, in comments to The Guardian, has expressed dissatisfaction with the statement issued by Switzerland Attorney-General Michael Lauber on 1MDB.
"It's very unusual, and against normal protocol, for a senior official of one country to speak publicly on the internal matters of another country. Yet that is what the Swiss attorney-general has done," he said.
Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has assured that the National Audit Department will present its audit report on 1MDB to it this month, without any delay.
In refuting an online report today, PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin called on all parties to have confidence and trust in the committee to carry out its investigation on the matter.
"The PAC wants to stress that the National Audit Department will still present its final report on 1MDB audit in February.
"The committee comprises members from various parties, including the Opposition, (therefore) there is nothing that should be protected and the PAC report will be based on accurate and true information," he said in a statement.
The online report had quoted an unnamed source as saying the audit report on 1MDB would likely be submitted in March instead of the February deadline set by the PAC.
The PAC is expected to table its report on the result of the 1MDB investigation to Parliament in March.
Hasan also said PAC was disappointed with the conduct of the Swiss Office of the Attorney-General for making a public statement over its investigation on 1MDB.
"The Swiss authority should have dealt directly with the Malaysian government.
"Releasing a statement to the media could give rise to speculations which are not based on the actual facts," he said.