Why hasn’t DoJ summoned anyone over 1MDB suits, asks Aziz Kaprawi

The US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) latest filing of civil suits to recover assets allegedly embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) are nothing but a “trick” employed by the opposition leaders. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ab Aziz Kaprawi, in a statement today, questioned DoJ’s action of filing the civil suit based on reports by unknown parties, which he described as “suspicious”.

(NST) – The US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) latest filing of civil suits to recover assets allegedly embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) are nothing but a “trick” employed by the opposition leaders.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ab Aziz Kaprawi, in a statement today, questioned DoJ’s action of filing the civil suit based on reports by unknown parties, which he described as “suspicious”.

“The statement by the DoJ was a tactic by certain quarters for it to be talked about during the upcoming Aidilfitri celebration.

“It is very suspicious because it was said that the money from 1MDB, a state-owned firm, was embezzled, but no one has been summoned by the DoJ to give any statements,” he said.

The DoJ last Thursday announced its third civil suit to seize assets allegedly acquired using misappropriated 1MDB funds.

Among the individuals named by the DoJ were Penang-born tycoon Low Taek Jho, and Riza Aziz, stepson of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The minister claimed that the controversy was purposely played up by the opposition to smear Najib’s image.

Aziz said although many quarters tried to tie Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the polemic, the DoJ did not mention their names in the suit.

“It seems like the opposition is getting more desperate as they are running out of issues to play up.

“The authorities should investigate reports on a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) youth exco who claimed that there was an attempt to lobby the DoJ to bring this case forward.”

Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin in a blog post dated June 18, had claimed that PPBM youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had met with party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin 20 months before the DoJ filed its latest civil forfeiture suit.

Raja Petra had alleged that after the meeting, Syed Saddiq informed three of his youth exco members of how RM50 million was spent on attempts to materialise the DoJ suits.