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Former Prime Minister Najib’s house raided

Posted in Featured, World

Published on May 19, 2018 with No Comments

Malaysian police visited former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s house reportedly searching for documents as part of a renewed probe into a massive corruption scandal involving a state investment fund that is being investigated abroad fuelling speculation that he may be arrested after new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned that he could be charged soon over the 1MDB fund fiasco.

Commercial crime director Amar Singh Ishar Singh told  media in Kaula Lumpur that police were searching for evidence in an ongoing probe and that it was being carried out at five locations belonging to or linked to Najib. As per reports, the police were searching for documents related to 1MDB and that raids occurred simultaneously at the prime minister’s office, the prime minister’s official residence and an upscale condominium in the city.

Newly elected Prime Minister Mahathir has not yet moved into the prime minister’s office or residence. He reopened a probe into the 1MDB scandal after his alliance won a stunning election victory last week, ousting Mr. Najib and ending the National Front’s 60-year grip on power.  Najib started the fund in 2009 and U.S. investigators say at least $4.5 billion was stolen and laundered by Najib’s associates, some of which landed in his bank account.  Prime Minister  Mahathir said he has met with ousted Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who said he had been preparing to file criminal charges against Najib when he was abruptly removed in 2015. Gani led an investigation by multiple agencies into the scandal at the time, which was later closed after Mr. Najib was cleared of wrongdoing.

Reformist icon Anwar Ibrahim celebrated a “new dawn” for Malaysia after he was given a royal pardon and freed from custody transforming a political prisoner into a prime minister-in-waiting following his alliance’s stunning election victory.Anwar, 70, was convicted of sodomy in 2015 in a case he said was aimed at crushing his alliance, which was making gains against Malaysia’s long ruling coalition government. His sentence was set to end June 8 but last week’s unexpected election win, which ended the National Front’s 60-year rule, led to his swift release.

“Now there is a new dawn for Malaysia,” he told a news conference at his house. Anwar said he was grateful to Malaysians “regardless of race and religion, who stood by the principles of democracy and freedom.” The election result was a demand for change and it’s the new government’s responsibility to ensure that mandate is honoured, he said.

Anwar, who needs to contest a by-election to become a Member of Parliament, said he doesn’t want any Cabinet posts yet as he plans to spend time with his family and travel abroad for speaking engagements. He reiterated his full support for Mahathir’s leadership and said their political feud has long been buried. “I have forgiven him. He has proven his mettle. He made his sacrifices and was maligned in the media. I tell you, it is like deja vu,” Anwar said. “He has struggled and worked indefatigably hard. He has now supported the reform agenda. He facilitated my release. Why should I harbour any malice toward him,” he added. His party has disputed Mahathir’s appointment of three top Cabinet posts, but Anwar said it was only a difference over the consultation process, adding it was Mahathir’s prerogative as premier to form the Cabinet.

 

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