[Cross-posted from European Tribune – where dissent is NOT troll rated!]
Due to corruption, billions have disappeared from state and bank accounts across the globe. Who still needs to labor for his income … “earnings” has been redefined by the 0.1% of the wealthiest.
State news agency Bernama says Mahathir "expected" to be sworn in at 5pm today. There's been some talk about the Malay rulers overstepping, but at crunch time they did as expected under the constitution. As they say in Malaysia, #DaulatTuanku. (Long Live the King).
— Bhavan Jaipragas 八万 (@jbhavan) May 10, 2018
More below the fold …
Ex-Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak questioned over 1MDB corruption scandal | DW |
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived at the offices of the Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for questioning over his suspected role in siphoning money out of the country’s development fund.
Less than two weeks after from being voted out of office after almost three decades in power, Najib was ordered to explain a suspicious transfer of 42 million ringgit ($10.6 million, €9 million) into his bank account.
The money is thought to have come from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a multi-billion-dollar state development fund from which around $4.5 billion went missing in 2015.
Investigators intimidated
MACC chief Shukri Abdull, who was reinstated to the agency by Malaysia’s new government, told reporters that the earlier probe into the scandal was suppressed by intimidation during Najib’s tenure.
He gave a detailed account of how witnesses disappeared and officers were purged and intimidated as they tried to charge Najib in 2015. He said that on one occasion a bullet was sent to his home.
“We had our own intelligence sources, that I would be arrested and locked up, because I was accused as being part of a conspiracy to bring down the government,” Shukri said, shedding tears briefly as he made his opening remarks in a news conference.
“I was sent a bullet to my house. I never told my wife or my family. I never even made a police report.”
Shukri said he was given police protection during a visit to the US following suspicions that he was being watched by Malaysian security officials.
“We wanted to bring back money that was stolen back to our country. Instead we were accused of bringing down the country, we were accused of being traitors,” he said.
Case reopened
Investigators initially suspected Najib’s involvement in the scandal after uncovering $681 million in funds deposited to his account, although he said they were donations from a Saudi royal.
However, pressure on Najib came to a head when he replaced the country’s attorney general and ordered several MACC officers to shut down their initial investigation. Public outrage over the government’s handling of the scandal saw Najib voted out of office this month after almost a decade in power.
Almost immediately after losing power, Najib and his wife were barred by the new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, from leaving the country.
Authorities also raided several properties linked to the former leader, seizing hundreds of designer handbags and luggage stuffed with cash, jewelry and other valuables.
US Justice Department aims to seize one billion dollars in Malaysian assets
