MACC clarifies move to lift freeze on Najib's accounts

PUTRAJAYA: The move to lift the freeze on the bank account of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was done as it was irrelevant to the investigations on financial scandals of the supposed donation of RM2.6 billion and SRC International Sdn Bhd, both that are related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The commission in clarifying contradicting comments made by certain parties through the media said yesterday investigators lifted the freeze as investigations on it was concluded and not due to pressure from any parties.
It was also revealed by the MACC that there were other accounts belonging to Najib that were related to the SRC and 1MDB that investigators could not freeze as it was found to have been closed prior to the investigations on both cases began in July 2015.
"We were unable to freeze other accounts belonging to Najib as it was closed before the probe began." said the commission.
The MACC stressed that investigations on the RM2.6 billion scandal is ongoing.
The commission also rebutted claims that it had given huge publicity when Najib's account was frozen but kept silent when it was released.
"The commission had never made any official statement with regards to the freezing and unfreezing of Najib's bank account but merely confirmed it only when the media raised queries on the matter."