A special taskforce probing the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB's funds has announced it has frozen six bank accounts related to the case.
"The order to freeze the six bank accounts belonging to those believed to be involved in this case was issued on July 6, 2015," said the taskforce in a joint statement today.
The statement was signed by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail ( photo ), Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Inspector-General of police Khalid Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kassim Mohamed.
The announcement follows a report in The Wall Street Journal alleging that US$700 million of 1MDB's funds were deposited into the personal bank accounts of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The joint statement made no mention whether the frozen accounts belonged to the prime minister.
Non-compliance
Furthermore, the special taskforce said it had obtained documents from two banks which it did not name.
"The special taskforce had taken documents relating to 17 accounts from two banks to facilitate investigation," it said.
The special taskforce added it also took documents relating to the non-compliance of Bank Negara rules by the said banks.
The statement today was a follow up to the task force's announcement last Saturday that it had commenced investigations into the allegations made against the prime minister.
Najib, who is also finance minister, has denied taking government funds for personal gain but faces criticism for not specifically addressing the allegation that 1MDB's money was deposited into his personal accounts.
The prime minister has dismissed the claim as "political sabotage" and accused former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ( photo ) of masterminding the allegations against him.
Mahathir has been a fierce critic of Najib, demanding that he resign for his handling of the finance ministry-owned 1MDB which has accumulated a debt of RM41.8 billion.
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