KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 9): “I need that agreement to be sorted out quickly, Your Highness. That is my special request. As soon as possible.”

That was what Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak apparently told United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crown Prince on the night of July 22, 2016 — two days after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a complaint to seize assets worth more than US$1 billion tied to money stolen from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), where US authorities believe more than US$4.5 billion had been siphoned off.

Najib’s “special request” to the crown prince was contained in one of nine recorded telephone conversations involving key persons linked to the 1MDB scandal released by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to the media yesterday.

Najib was seeking help from Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan to fabricate a loan agreement for his film producer stepson, Riza Aziz.

In the US DoJ filing, Riza’s production house Red Granite Pictures was said to have laundered funds originating from 1MDB, and Najib wanted the crown prince to fabricate a loan agreement to legitimise the funding.

The agreement, however, did not materialise, and the “small” problem involving Riza’s Hollywood funding has now landed him in court, while his mother Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was allegedly involved with decision-making to cover up the mismanagement at 1MDB, according to audio recordings of telephone conversations between key persons linked to the 1MDB scandal.

The nine audio clips, with a total running time of 45 minutes, were received by the MACC “just after the New Year”, said its chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, who declined to reveal the source.

The conversations took place between Jan 5, 2016 and July 29, 2016, said Latheefa, noting that the dates appear on the name of each audio file.

 

Recordings reveal 1MDB probe leakage, Rosmah instructing Najib to manoeuvre

One file contains a conversation between Najib and Mubadala Investment Co group chief executive officer Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, where Najib sought help to resolve Riza’s predicament, beginning with a one-on-one meeting between Riza and Khaldoon — with no lawyers involved.

Four of the clips involve a person who appears to be former MACC chief Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad — then a deputy public prosecutor in the Attorney-General (AG)’s Chambers — leaking investigation information from the AG’s Chambers to Najib, Rosmah, former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, and Najib’s former chief private secretary Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh.

The investigation papers leaked to Najib was on former 1MDB unit SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Dzulkifli was heard saying that the Attorney-General — then Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali — was “very good” but that the recommendation by the MACC on the case, specifically then-chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim, was troublesome.

“From the legal side, [newly appointed AG] Tan Sri Apandi Ali can handle, I can handle,” Dzulkifli was heard telling Najib.

Meanwhile Azeez appeared concerned about the possible link between 1MDB and pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji.

Najib was also recorded speaking with a furious Rosmah one week after the DoJ filing.

“You are the Prime Minister, you should take charge. Not anybody else, okay?” Rosmah was heard telling Najib, as she suggested the way forward for Najib to resolve Riza’s predicament.

Based on the recording, Rosmah was also actively advising Najib how to resolve the arbitration by Mubadala’s International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) against 1MDB in 2016. At the time, IPIC had initiated arbitration proceedings against 1MDB to seek US$6.5 billion from the fund and Malaysia, when it claimed 1MDB had failed to make good on an amount owed under the terms of a deal in which IPIC agreed to guarantee US$3.5 billion worth of bonds 1MDB issued.

Subsequently, Najib was heard discussing with his special officer then, Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin about a failed attempt to meet Khaldoon in Jakarta, Indonesia to work on the arbitration.

 

Recording publicised for ‘public interest’, not sub judice

After playing the recording to the media, MACC’s Latheefa said the anti-graft agency was satisfied with the ‘absolute authenticity’ of the recordings.

“There are various issues that arise, including abuse of power, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of justice, compromising of national security, and fabrication of false evidence through foreign aide,” she said.

The recordings will be handed to the authorities for further investigation, Latheefa said.

Asked why the information was shared with the media first, Latheefa said, “As far as we are concerned, this is of public interest and it involves serious national security. So I don’t see how this can’t be shared.”

“And [it is] not just in the name of transparency, but because we do not want anymore undermining of independent bodies like the MACC, or the AGC (AG’s chambers)to be compromised in the manner which you can see — how secret documents are being shared and revealed.”

Latheefa added that MACC does not view the release as sub judice to ongoing court cases involving Najib, Rosmah and Riza.

She, however, refused to comment on whether the authorities will seek to work with the UAE to clear the air on the matter, if the files will be tendered as new evidence in the ongoing trials, or if they will file new charges against the people involved in the recording.

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