It is clear that “Malaysian Official 1" mentioned in the US Department of Justice civil (DOJ) suits referred to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, said a pro-Umno portal.
However, MyKMU.net asked whether all the issues mentioned in the documents were true.
“DOJ has to prove it in court. Unfortunately, there is a big possibility this will not happen because DOJ is not suing Najib.
“Since they are not suing Najib, therefore whatever references made to MO1 (Malaysian Official 1) need not be proven in court,” it added.
The portal also considered it a “great mystery” that DOJ linked ‘MO1' to the case when it did not intend to seize any of this official’s assets.
“They only want to seize the assets of four individuals - Jho Low, Riza Aziz, Khadem Al Qubaisi and Mohammed Badawy Al Hussseiny, whom they believe profited illegally from 1MDB.
“In this also, DOJ must prove that the four used 1MDB funds to procure the assets listed (in the court filings),” it added.
MyKMU said the anti-Najib group should pressure the DOJ to expedite the case unless the group wanted the matter delayed in order to execute its agenda to topple the prime minister.
Yesterday, Najib said all those mentioned in the DOJ filings must clear their names, and added that the government viewed the matter seriously.
Last week, DOJ filed the suits claiming that funds allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB had been used to settle gambling debts, purchase properties, artworks, a yacht and even a plane.
Among the four named in the filings, Riza is Najib’s stepson whereas Jho Low is a businessman reportedly close to the prime minister’s family.
The DOJ also alleged that Malaysian Official 1, whom it described as a high- ranking public official who had a position of authority in 1MDB, had received US$731 million siphoned from the state investment firm.
Najib is the chairperson of the 1MDB board of advisers. He also helms the Finance Ministry, which is the sole shareholder of the allegation-riddled firm.
Najib has repeatedly denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and attorney-general Mohamad Apandi Ali has cleared him of any wrongdoing.
