GRAFT-BUSTERS have issued 80 compound notices, including to Najib Razak’s brother, Nazir, to recover RM420 million belonging to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

The list of nine individuals and 71 entities issued the notices includes Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and myPPP, which are still or were part of the then ruling Barisan Nasional.

Several private and public companies are also on the list, including Solar Shine Sdn Bhd and Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia Bhd.

Apart from Nazri, the other individuals named include property tycoon Lim Soon Peng, and Umno politicians Ahmad Maslan, Shahrir Abdul Samad and Hanafi Mamat.

Nazir is former CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairman, while Ahmad is a former deputy finance minister. Shahrir used to hold the trade portfolio, and was also Felda chairman till last year.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Latheefa Koya told reporters in Putrajaya today that the notices were issued to recover money believed to have been transferred to the 80 parties from an account belonging to former prime minister Najib.

She said they have two weeks to pay the fine, in accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

MACC is taking a pragmatic approach to get back funds lost through 1MDB, she added.

Latheefa said the anti-graft agency will not pursue charges against those who willingly return the money.

She said the amount sought from Nazir is RM25.7 million, while Solar Shine is alleged to have gotten RM134 million.

The latest action by MACC is different from the civil forfeiture suits filed against 41 parties in June, she said.

“In the previous case, the 41 respondents still have money in their accounts, and we can apply to freeze their accounts.

“These compound notices, meanwhile, are for those we have traced as having received 1MDB money.

“After getting these notices, they will have to pay a fine, with the sum to be that of the amount they received, or 2½ times more.”

In June, MACC filed forfeiture suits against 41 individuals and entities to recover RM270 million in 1MDB-linked funds they allegedly received from Najib’s personal AmBank account.

Of the total amount, it is seeking RM212 million from Umno divisions.  – October 7, 2019.