Apandi lashes out at Swiss AG
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia did not accede to Switzerland’s previous requests to collaborate in the probe related to the 1MDB scandal for fear of prejudice to domestic investigations of the case, says former Attorney General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali
“I recall that in my written reply to Switzerland, as the AG then, that since the Malaysian investigation was still ongoing, to accede to the Swiss request could prejudice the criminal matter in Malaysia,” he said when asked to comment on Michael Lauber’s statement to reporters on Tuesday.
Apandi had lashed out at the Attorney General of Switzerland for accusing him of refusing to cooperate.
“It is not correct to say that I had refused to cooperate with the Swiss AG, whom I met twice in Switzerland, over this issue,” Apandi said.
Lauber had said that Apandi had refused to extend his cooperation when the latter headed the AG’s
Chambers.
Lauber and his delegation were in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to meet with his counterpart and Apandi’s successor Tommy Thomas and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Saying that he would keep his options open, including to sue the news portal that ran the article, Apandi said the allegations were uncalled for.
“To say that I am or was uncooperative is obviously unfair and uncalled for; particularly when such a remark is made when I am no longer the AG of Malaysia.
“I was strictly following the provisions of Section 20(1)(l) of the Mutual Assistance In Criminal Matters Act 2002 (Act 621). I was just abiding by the laws that govern such cooperation in mutual legal assistance,” said Apandi.
“At the material time, when the request was sent to Malaysia in 2016, the Malaysian police were still investigating the 1MDB case.”
Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General had requested for mutual legal assistance from Malaysia on two occasions, but received no response in return.
Apandi was appointed as AG in July 2015. His appointment followed the sudden removal of Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail from the post allegedly over then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s role in the 1MDB scandal.
He subsequently cleared Najib of any wrongdoing in January 2016 concerning the RM2.6bil ‘donation’ and RM42mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd transferred into the former premier’s personal bank accounts.
SRC was a subsidiary of the 1MDB state investment firm founded by Najib.
In the May 9 general election, Najib led the Barisan Nasional coalition to defeat for the first time in 60 years of independence.
Following the installation of a new government, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahahir Mohamad accused Apandi of a cover-up and the latter was made to go on leave.