[UPDATED] Cops to summon Rafizi over LCS accusations against Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR – PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli will be called up by police to give a statement after a report was lodged last night over allegations he made about special functions minister Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad and supposed “wife”.

Sentul police chief Beh Eng Lai said in a statement that the case is being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code (defamation) and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 (sharing or dissemination of false, offensive, and threatening content).

Based on checks, the authorities found that the content in question was published at rafiziramli.com, and Rafizi’s Facebook and Twitter pages on different dates.

They also found that on August 25, two videos were published on Rafizi’s TikTok and Instagram accounts.

Beh said Latiff’s aide, aged 30, lodged a report last night at 9.28pm, alleging that Rafizi made slanderous statements via his blog with the aim of ruining Latiff’s good name.

He added that the complainant denied claims that Latiff has a second wife, who was given a multi-million ringgit contract linked to the littoral combat ship (LCS) project, and that this took place when Latiff was a deputy minister.

Recently, Rafizi alleged that Latiff is married to a woman named Zainab Mohd Salleh, who has been linked to a company which allegedly siphoned millions of ringgit in funds from the LCS project.

Rafizi had also previously alleged that the Mersing MP had benefited in several other defence projects. 

In a series of statements posted on his social media accounts between August 22 and 26, Rafizi had claimed that Zainab – who was mentioned in the forensic audit report released by Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd, and linked to a firm that allegedly siphoned millions of ringgit in LCS funds – is Latiff’s wife. 

Latiff, who is a Bersatu member, denied having any relationship with the woman implicated in the scandal, and said he was open to being investigated. 

Rafizi responded by challenging Latiff to sue him if the claims he made were untrue, while the minister accused the PKR leader of using him as political fodder ahead of the coming general election. – The Vibes, August 31, 2022