The Malaysian Insight

ABOUT 10% of the 80 individuals and entities believed to have received funds from 1Malaysia Development Bhd have agreed to pay their compounds after receiving the notice on October 7, said Azam Baki.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy commissioner said some have asked to pay the compound in instalments, which will be discussed later.

Azam said 40% will face court action, while another 45% have appealed.

“As for three individuals who claimed to have not received the notices, we have issued them the compound notice,” he said, adding that all 80 have received notices.

The amount of compound collected will be announced later.

Early this month, the anti-graft agency served compound notices to the 80 individuals and entities which received funds totalling RM420 million from 1MDB.

Commenting on Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan’s statement on the miscalculation of the compound, Azam said MACC adhered to Section 92 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

“If there are quarters questioning the calculation method, that is up to them. MACC is bound to the law and there is no mistake here,” he added.

Earlier this month, MACC released a compound notice against Najib Razak’s brother and former Barisan Nasional ministers and deputy ministers to recoup 1MDB funds they received from the former prime minister.

Former CIMB Group chairman Mohd Nazir Razak, Ahmad and former Felda chairman Shahrir Samad are among the 80.

MACC chief Latheefa Koya said the compound involves funds amounting to RM420million which was disbursed in the form of cheques from Najib’s bank account.

Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM),  a company owned by the Ministry of Finance and managed by the Education Ministry, was also served a compound notice.

MACC is also trying to recoup the 1MDB funds from media and communications agencies, such as Cense Media Sdn Bhd and Salt Media Consultancy Sdn Bhd, the publisher of the Transformasi Najib cartoon, Qalif Umar Creative and 19 other companies.

Other individuals include Najib’s former political secretary Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh, former Umno Pasir Mas division chief Hanafi Mamat and developer Lim Soon Peng.

In addition, 43 political entities, including BN, Umno, MCA, MIC, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, Gerakan and PPP, along with four parliamentary service centres, five foundations and other bodies were also served the compound notice.

MACC in June filed a forfeiture suit against 41 entities to recover RM270 million.– October 18, 2019.