IGP: Najib’s son not part of Thai ponzi scheme

(Malay Mail Online) – Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar dismissed today allegations that Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allegedly involved with Ufun Group Bhd Ltd, a multi-level marketing firm that was recently exposed for allegedly cheating over 120,000 people of some RM4 billion.

According to a report by The Malaysian Insider, Malaysian police had contacted its Thailand counterparts to check on the validity of the information.

“Thai police never mentioned PM’s son (Mohd Nazifuddin Najib)” IGP Khalid was quoted saying.

Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, the second son of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has denied his involvement in Ufun Group Bhd Ltd.

According to Malaysiakini, Mohd Nazifuddin claimed the firm has been using his name to deceive buyers into enrolling in the Ponzi scheme and that claims of his alleged involvement were part of a smear campaign against him.

“I have no involvement with the group and have already warned the police, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Thai embassy of this incident when I first discovered it a couple of years back,” he was quoted as saying in a statement recently.

The news portal also reported Nazifuddin as saying that he was no longer the director and chairman of Saguta (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, the firm that was connected to Ufun, after resigning on May 31, 2012.

Quoting from a recent report in The Bangkok Post, Malaysiakini noted that Thai police have estimated that some 120,000 people have been cheated by Ufun, which sells Utoken, a digital currency used to purchase items and services online.

According to the news portal, Nazifuddin also denied knowing any of the suspects from Malaysia who were nabbed in the ongoing crackdown on the scheme.

“Both Thai and Malaysian police will cooperate in their investigations to detain the perpetrators and those involved in this scheme,” he was quoted as saying.

Regarding the special segment aired by Thai television station NOW 26 that claims of his alleged connection with Ufun, Nazifuddin said, “There is no concrete evidence in the video that suggests my involvement with Ufun (Group Bhd Ltd) and their schemes.

“Someone is coordinating a libellous personal attack by ‘viralling’ a Thai video of my involvement with the Ufun group in an attempt to smear my name and attack my reputation,” he was quoted as adding.

The segment, which is still available on video-sharing site YouTube draws the alleged link between Nazifuddin and Ufun through developer firm Lagenda Erajuta Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of Sagajuta.