FORMER prime minister Najib Razak may be investigated for abuse of power as the new government collects evidence of wrongdoing linked to the 1MDB scandal, Bloomberg reports today.

Quoting sources, Bloomberg said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has already listed the potential scope of investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Possible offences include witness suppression and the blocking of a Bank Negara criminal case.

Other possible offences include criminal breach of trust involving a letter of support from the Ministry of Finance for 1MDB bonds, fraudulent investment by 1MDB, unauthorised bond issuance by 1MDB and funds flowing into Najib’s bank accounts.

Najib’s lawyer, Harpal Singh Grewal, said yesterday his client is “prepared and willing to extend his fullest cooperation to the relevant authorities”.

So far, the police have already raided several apartments linked to Najib and collected evidence, such as handbags and watches and cash.

The newly elected Pakatan Harapan government promised to reopen investigations into Najib’s role in the scandal-plagued 1MDB during the campaign.

Najib and several 1MDB-related individuals, such as CEO Arul Kanda, 1MDB chairman and former Ministry of Finance secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah, former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, former MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad and Attorney-General Apandi Ali have been barred from leaving the country.

Newly elected Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday he will also try to recover the funds diverted from 1MDB by reaching out to Switzerland, the United States and Singapore. 

According to the US Department of Justice, some US$3.5 billion (RM14 billion) are missing from 1MDB. 

Najib has denied any wrongdoing in the scandal. – May 18, 2018.