PM not involved in deal involving DNAA of Najib’s step-son

(NST) – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was not involved in the agreement which saw a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) of Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz involving money laundering charges linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement today said the agreement was reached by the prosecution and the accused through representations submitted to the Attorney General’s Office.

“The Prime Minister reiterated his stand on not interfering with the affairs of the Attorney General’s Office and the judiciary in any decision-making regarding criminal cases including high profile cases in the country,” it said.

It was reported last week (May 14) that the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur granted Riza, who is the stepson of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, a DNAA over five counts of money laundering amounting to some US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) which was linked to the controversial 1MDB funds.

It was reported that Sessions Court judge Azman Ahmad allowed the application by lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram in that an agreement had been reached where the accused will hand over “several million” ringgit to the government.

Following the court’s decision, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in a statement said overseas assets worth an estimated US$107.3mil (RM465.3mil) were expected to be recovered, following an agreement between the prosecution and the accused.

Riza had been accused of receiving US$248.17 million in 2011 and 2012 in illegal proceeds that came from 1MDB.

The money was sent to bank accounts of Hollywood production company Red Granite Pictures, which Riza co-founded.

However, former Attorney-General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas has said that he had never agreed to the deal nor sanctioned it.

Current Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun however stated that Tommy had in principle agreed to the deal.