KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali told the High Court here today that the investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC International) was only classified as “No Further Action” and was never closed during his tenure as the Attorney-General (AG).
He said even when he left the post in 2018, the investigation was still ongoing.
“Any investigators could reopen the probe if new evidence surfaced.
“The investigation was never completed even until the day I left the AG Chambers,” he said when cross-examined by lawyer Ramkarpal Singh in the trial of his defamation suit against DAP’s veteran Lim Kit Siang before judge Datuk Azimah Omar.
Mohamed Apandi also said that he did not clear the former premier from the 1MDB and SRC International related charges but only on the RM2.6 billion donation.
On July 5, 2019, Mohamed Apandi had sued Lim and stated in his statement of claim that on May 6, 2019, Lim had written and caused to be published an article titled “Dangerous fallacy to think Malaysia’s on the road to integrity” in Malaysiakini.
He claimed that the alleged libellous words in the article implied that he was involved in crime and had abetted in the 1MDB financial scandal, was a person with no morals and integrity, was unethical and had abused his power when he was the AG.
Mohamed Apandi who was the AG from July 27, 2015, to June 4, 2018, contended that the libellous words were untrue and written with the intention of tarnishing his image and credibility as a former Malaysian AG for cheap publicity.
He is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as RM10 million in general damages, an injunction to prevent Lim and/or his agents from publishing the alleged defamatory words again and other relief deemed fit by the court.
The hearing before Judge Azimah continues tomorrow. — Bernama
