EVIDENCE that RM42 million were transferred from a 1MDB subsidiary into the account of former prime minister Najib Razak surfaced in 2015 but was rejected by the attorney-general, said Reuters today.

Lim Chee Wee, a member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s operations review panel, told Reuters MACC found evidence in late 2015 that RM42 million from 1MDB unit SRC International was deposited into Najib’s account but Mohamed Apandi Ali declined to probe further.

The attorney-general is now on gardening leave following the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan’s shock general election win on May 9.

Dr Mahathir has vowed to investigate the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal and pursue those implicated in the scheme to defraud billions of ringgit from the state investor.

On Saturday, the immigration department barred Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, from leaving the country.

“A-G refused to investigate further despite evidence suggesting that Najib received directly or indirectly RM42 million from SRC,” Lim was quoted as saying.

Apandi also declined repeated requests from MACC to seek legal assistance from foreign governments to trace missing funds from 1MDB, Lim said.

The eight-man panel was tasked with reviewing investigations by MACC into a reported transfer of US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) into Najib’s bank account and transactions linked to SRC. – May 15, 2018.