Over 50 people implicated in 1MDB cash transactions: Noor Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 50 people, including local politicians, foreigners and companies, are connected to alleged cash transactions from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), deputy inspector-general of police (DIGP) Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said today.
Noor Rashid named the companies as Good Star Limited, Aabar Investments and Tanore Finance Corporation.
"A total of US$972 million, or RM2.97 billion, was found to have been deposited into the account of the person we are investigating via several phases," he added.
Bernama quoted him as saying investigations into the 1MDB scandal had uncovered that the RM2.973 billion was deposited into the personal account of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
"For Good Star, Aabar and also Tanore, we have identified more than 100 transactions, and we have also identified the individuals involved in receiving money from the transactions which I mentioned earlier.
"More than 50 people are linked to the transactions and we have taken action to record their statements," he told a media conference at Bukit Aman police headquarters.
When pressed, Noor Rashid confirmed politicians were involved in the transactions.
He however declined to confirm if lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was also party to the transactions.
He also explained that Najib was not precise in claiming police must return impounded assets, including the millions of cash, branded handbags, jewellery and luxury watches taken from his properties, if no legal action were undertaken within three months of their confiscation.
He said the seized items were needed assist the authorities in their investigations.
Noor Rashid said investigators have one year under the Anti Money-Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA) or until May 2019, to do so if no action is taken.
"Yes, we can use the seized items for investigations for one year," he said when asked if Najib was wrong about the three-month period.
"We have a time frame of one year under the law, and that ends in May next year. However, the people don't have to worry about the matter because we are doing our best to complete investigations in the shortest time possible," he added.
Earlier this month, Najib questioned why authorities had yet to return the items seized from several properties linked to him shortly after the May 9 general election.
The former premier said according to the law, the seized assets must be returned if no charges were filed within three months of the raids being conducted.
Noor Rashid said police had yet to receive an official request from any party to reclaim the seized items.
"Up until now, the AMLATFPUAA task force has not received any official request from any party to reclaim the seized cash and valuables."
Noor Rashid said the police are currently awaiting mutual legal assistance from other countries involved in the 1MDB investigation, after which necessary action will follow suit.