Satisfied with Apandi’s response, Swiss AG to deliver 1MDB documents soon
(Malay Mail Online) – The office of the Attorney-General of Switzerland (OAG) said it will in the “coming days” hand over to Malaysia documents purportedly showing suspicious money transfers by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
In an email to Malay Mail Online, OAG’s information head André Marty confirmed the matter but refused to divulge further information on the investigation, saying it is protected by Switzerland’s secrecy laws.
“Please take note that in Switzerland pending criminal proceedings are by law (Art. 73 Swiss Criminal Proceeding Code), confidential and we are generally bound by investigation secrecy (Art. 320 Swiss Criminal Code). That’s why no further information can be given by the OAG,” he wrote in response to a request for information on the probe.
Marty also said in another email that the OAG will not issue responses to political statements made on the matter here, noting that some of these have been reported by the local media.
He did not specify which statements he was referring to, however.
Marty then added that the agency was satisfied with AG Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali’s response to OAG’s media release on its 1MDB probe last Friday.
When asked when the agency planned on handing over its documents on the probe to Malaysia, the OAG official replied: “Coming days would be appropriate.”
Swiss AG Michael Lauber said in a media statement on Friday that his office has contacted Malaysia formally to request the country’s aid in his investigation on a possible violation of Switzerland’s laws by 1MDB, which he said detected suspected misappropriation of nearly US$4 billion.
Lauber said the possible violations include corruption, abuse of public office, money laundering, and criminal mismanagement.
The Swiss AG’s office opened criminal proceedings last August against two former 1MDB officials as well as “persons unknown.”
Lauber highlighted in his statement that he had discussed the matter with Apandi at a meeting in Zurich in September.
In his response on Saturday, Apandi said his office will decide how to respond once it receives documents from his Swiss counterpart.
The AG said he was eager to establish the details of allegations against the state-owned firm, which he noted was why 1MDB is being scrutinised by several Malaysian agencies.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Swiss AG should have taken the matter straight to Putrajaya instead of issuing a media statement.
