Najib, 2 ex-ministers, ex-deputy minister, MP to be charged soon

The cases reportedly involve projects worth billions of ringgit

DATUK Seri Najib Razak, two former ministers and a former deputy minister will soon be charged with graft and abuse of power over projects involving billions of ringgit.

Also expected to be charged are a former special officer to Najib and a member of parliament.

The former ministers and special officer are expected to be charged next week, while investigations into the others are ongoing.

Berita Harian, in an exclusive report, said all six individuals had their statements recorded.

Some had been charged in court for other cases.

It is believed that Najib, a former minister and the former special officer were involved in a project to supply and install solar panels at 369 schools in Sarawak at a cost of RM1.25 billion.

The Sarawak Report portal revealed in January last year that the project was awarded to a vehicle rental company in Bintulu.

The news portal published several letters purportedly signed by Najib, which instructed the Education Ministry to award the project and make payments to the company directly despite the firm not fulfilling the contract terms and conditions.

In July, a special officer to Najib was remanded to assist investigations.

In October, former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid was questioned for five hours by MACC.

BH was informed that another former minister was connected to a case involving the sale of land by Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Earlier, it was reported that a task force set up by the Federal Territories Ministry and MACC had investigated the case involving 97 dubious transactions in connection with the sale of 273.27ha of DBKL land worth RM5.63 billion.

Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said 43 transactions were allowed to resume, 23 were renegotiated, 20 investigated by MACC, 10 cancelled and one was taken to court by the developer.

Five of the 43 transactions were sold at a lower-than-actual price, but the task force allowed the transactions to go on as they involved the construction of Rumah Mampu Milik Wilayah Persekutuan homes.

Last month, former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said he was summoned by MACC for more than 12 times to assist in the investigation into the DBKL case.

He reportedly said he was not involved in land matters as they were handed to the Prime Minister’s Department after he took office in 2013.

The case involving a former deputy minister is believed to be connected to the misappropriation of RM25 million under the National Film Development Corporation.

BH found that the MP, who was former chairman of a government-linked agency, would be charged with receiving kickbacks from several government projects.

Among the projects were the construction of the 316km West Coast Expressway, the purchase of ambulances by the Health Ministry and road upgrades in the peninsula.