Not enough evidence to charge ex-BNM governor over 1MDB, says minister

Not enough evidence to charge ex-BNM governor over 1MDB, says minister

PETALING JAYA: The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) found insufficient evidence to press charges against former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz over the alleged transfer of billions in 1MDB funds abroad.

Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said revealed this in a Feb 27 written parliamentary reply to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), who asked why no action had been taken against Zeti.

Lim also asked whether a full investigation was being conducted into Zeti’s assets, as well as those of her husband and children.

Azalina said the police’s anti-money laundering crime investigation team (Amla) had not opened an investigation paper on Zeti or her family.

However, she confirmed that Amla was actively investigating Zeti’s husband, Tawfiq Ayman, along with other related parties, following a police report lodged at the Dang Wangi police station.

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She said Tawfiq was currently under investigation under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

“I am responding on behalf of the AGC. Based on the feedback received from them, the available evidence is insufficient to file charges against Zeti,” she said.

“However, it should be noted that there is no time limitation for criminal action against any party.”

Azalina also reiterated that the police’s commercial crime investigation department had conducted a thorough investigation into the 1MDB scandal instead of focusing on specific individuals.

Zeti testified as a key prosecution witness in the 1MDB trials of former prime minister Najib Razak.

She consistently denied wrongdoing, saying the allegations against her and her family were “completely false and malicious”.