Najib's stepson Riza Aziz to be questioned by MACC tomorrow
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RIZA Aziz, who allegedly used hundreds of millions of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds to make Hollywood movies, will be questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission tomorrow, sources said.
The 48-year-old stepson of embattled former prime minister Najib Razak and pal of fugitive Low Taek Jho, has kept a low profile since his name was sprinkled liberally by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) in the kleptocracy investigation.
Riza is a film producer and co-founder of Hollywood film production company, Red Granite Pictures.
In March 2018, the producers of hit Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street have agreed to pay back US$60 million (RM242.4 million) to the US government after allegations the film was funded with money stolen from the state investor 1MDB.
According to a CNN news report in March this year, Red Granite Pictures, which also made big budget comedies “Daddy’s Home” and “Dumb and Dumber To,” was required to pay the amount in three instalments over the next 12 months (from March), according to documents filed with the US district court in California.
DoJ believed that the money was transferred into bank accounts controlled by Riza.
Riza was accused of using the funds to purchase luxury properties from the fugitive Low, popularly known as Jho Low, as well as movie posters.
DoJ had also alleged that the prime minister’s stepson said the US$94 million he received from 1MDB was “a gift”.
In total, DoJ is seeking to seize approximately US$1 billion worth of assets which were allegedly bought with money stolen from 1MDB.
The 1MDB investigation in Malaysia was reopened as part as the new government’s 100 days election pledge.
The new Pakatan Harapan government, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had pledged to reopen and investigate cases such as the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, the 1MDB scandal and other cases linked to Najib. – July 2, 2018.