Zeti: I had no knowledge of RM2.6b in ex-PM’s account

PETALING JAYA: Former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz has refuted claims that she had knowledge of the inflow of RM2.6 billion into the personal bank account of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak in 2013.

“I refer to Najib’s recent interview with MalaysiaKini on July 2 when reference was made on the claim that I had knowledge of the inflow of RM2.6 billion into his personal bank account in 2013. I wish to categorically state that this claim is false. I had no knowledge of this RM2.6 billion remitted into his account,” she said yesterday.

Zeti also revealed that on July 3, 2015, she was called to the Prime Minister’s Office where Najib and a Cabinet minister made a request for her to issue a statement that he had done nothing wrong in regard to the RM2.6 billion.

“I informed Najib that I cannot issue such a statement because I did not have knowledge of transactions (involving) his account.”

She said on matters relating to transactions by account holders in the banking system, BNM relies on information provided by the reporting financial institutions.

“The banking community is fully aware ware of the regulations and guidelines governing the e reporting of any suspicious transactions and d for the necessary due diligence on the operations ons of any such accounts. Unless the relevant banking institution reports to BNM of irregularities rities in an account or if BNM received a tip-off that hat gives a reason to believe that an offence has occurred, ccurred, the Central Bank is not able to initiate ate investigation into the account,” she e said.