JOHOR BARU – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today claimed that he will not be able to afford the US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) sought by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in a civil suit.
It is understood Najib’s response is in relation to a mareva injunction obtained by 1MDB that limits the Pekan MP's monthly withdrawals to RM100,000.
In a Facebook post today, he said law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana was appointed as 1MDB's counsel, and also happens to represent former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“1MDB is under the control of the finance minister who is also appointed by the eighth prime minister (Muhyiddin).
“In the criminal case concerning 1MDB, I have nine charges of money laundering because RM2.6 billion entered my account, and there are six additional charges because I returned the money four months later.
“Although the funds have been returned, 1MDB still wants to sue me.”
He said he is baffled as to why 1MDB thinks he has RM2.6 billion, when he doesn’t have money to pay the RM1.7 billion owed to the Inland Revenue Board.
He added that the 1MDB civil suit is filed with the intention to create the perception that he has RM2.6 billion worth of assets to freeze.
Najib claimed that after years of investigations, Putrajaya is aware of how much assets he has.
“What’s interesting is that when 1MDB made the application in court to limit my withdrawals, the company gave a guarantee that it will pay costs to me in the event it loses the suit.
“This is a form of government guarantee, and was it approved by the cabinet?”
1MDB and one of its subsidiaries have obtained an injunction from the Kuala Lumpur High Court to stop Najib from disposing of or reducing the value of any of his assets in Malaysia up to US$681 million.
Based on documents obtained by the media, the injunction also restricts Najib to making withdrawals of up to only RM100,000 a month which he needs for his living and legal expenses.
However, if he needs more than the amount allowed, he will have to get written permission from 1MDB and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited (formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited).
The order also states that Najib must make written disclosures to 1MDB and Global Diversified in relation to his assets up to the value of US$681 million, whether locally or abroad, whether under his own name or not, and whether on sole proprietorship or ownership with other defendants.
The order takes effect until the court hears the inter-parte application for the injunction on February 21.
In the suit, 1MDB, 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited are the plaintiffs, while Najib, former 1MDB financial director Terrence Geh Choh Heng, former 1MDB lawyer Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, former 1MDB executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, Vincent Beng and 1MDB chief operations officer Radhi Mohamad are named the defendants.
Also named as defendants are former investment director Kelvin Tan Kay Jim and former SRC International Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.
The US$8 billion suit is one of the 22 civil suits filed to claim over US$23 billion on behalf of 1MDB and its former subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd against several individuals allegedly involved in the financial scandal. – The Vibes, February 10, 2022
