Graft busters looking into the buying of subs 16 years ago
PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators are taking a relook at the controversial purchase of French Scorpene submarines, which Malaysia bought when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was defence minister.
It is learnt that the case was reopened and investigators are likely to call up several individuals linked to the case, including political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.
Abdul Razak had advised Najib over the 2002 submarine deal.
Investigators will be looking at whether kickbacks were accepted when the purchase was made 16 years ago.
Sources with knowledge of the case told The Star that with Najib already facing court charges over the 1MDB scandal, investigators believed that the time was right to take a relook at the Scorpene scandal.
“Yes, we have reopen the case. We will also be calling others. Razak Baginda definitely,” said a high-ranking source who wished to remain anonymous.
The same source confirmed that Najib was summoned yesterday by graft investigators following a relaunch of the case.
The former prime minister went to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters at 9.22am and left about four hours later.
In 2002, Najib oversaw the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines and one Agostaclass submarine from French naval dockyard DCN International.
The deal was worth nearly 1bil then. In May this year, soon after the new government was formed, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said he would need to get a full picture of the Malaysian Armed Forces before looking into the details of several issues and scandals, including the purchase of the submarines.