Umno leader denies threatening 1MDB witness, says will reply show cause letter
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UMNO supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam today said his police report lodged against Najib Razak’s former special officer Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin should not be construed as a threat against the key 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial witness.
He said the report was lodged to urge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and police to investigate Amhari for alleged offences that were revealed while testifying at the ongoing 1MDB trial.
Najib faces 25 criminal charges in relation to RM2.3 billion in public funds in the trial.
“I did not make any threats,” Lokman said when contacted by The Malaysian Insight today.
“I only lodged a police report against Amhari in relation to the testimony given (when he was a prosecution witness),” said Lokman, who is believed to be in hospital for health reasons.
He said he wants the authorities to investigate Amhari’s claim that he received a salary from a private firm, Orb Solutions Sdn Bhd, while he was a civil servant.
Authorities should also look into Amhari’s claim that he received US$200,000 from fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho and another RM3.7 million that he held at the Swiss bank BSI, said Lokman.
“These three matters are offences under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the MACC Act. The report was lodged after he testified, so how is it that I threatened him?”
He also confirmed he received a show cause letter from the 1MDB prosecutors on Monday, to which he must respond within seven days.
“I will reply (by Monday) through my lawyer.”
Free Malaysia Today reported that the prosecutors issued the show cause letter to Lokman for threatening Amhari.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa Kunyalam confirmed that he signed the show cause letter, which was issued under Order 52 Rule 2B of the High Court Rules.
“We will initiate contempt proceedings against Lokman if we are not satisfied with his reply,” a source said.
Lokman also attacked MACC chief Latheefa Koya for inaction, and uploaded a video repeating the allegations made in the report. – October 3, 2019.