Muhyiddin had no hand in Riza's deal, says PMO

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 18 May 2020 5:58PM · 16 Comments

PM Muhyiddin Yassin today reiterates no-interference stance in the affairs of the Attorney-General's Chambers and judiciary, ‘over decisions involving criminal cases, including high-profile cases’. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 18, 2020.

PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin did not have a hand in the deal that saw Riza Aziz given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, as part of a settlement to his money-laundering charges.

The Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement today, said the agreement was reached between the prosecutor and the accused through a representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“The prime minister reiterates his stand not to interfere in the affairs of the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the judiciary over decisions involving criminal cases, including high-profile cases,” the statement said.

Riza was charged with five counts of receiving proceeds of unlawful activity totalling US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) between April 2011 and November 2012.

He faced up to five years’ jail and a fine of up to RM5 million.

However, the government struck a deal to drop charges against Riza in return for recovering overseas assets allegedly linked to 1MDB estimated at US$107.3 million (RM465.3 million).

As part of the agreement, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on May 14 allowed an application by the prosecution for a discharge not amounting to acquittal in Riza’s case.

The deal also sparked a controversy after the current Attorney-General Idrus Harun said his predecessor Tommy Thomas had agreed to it in principle.

Idrus said Riza had made several representations to the A-G’s Chambers through his solicitors, Messrs Scivetti & Associates, for the charges against him to be dropped in return for properties and money allegedly gained by him.

“I have been advised that my predecessor Tommy Thomas, after perusing the said letter of representation, via a minute dated November 19 to senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, sought the views of the latter, and further said that in light of the proposals outlined above, he is prepared to consider the representation.

“I have been further advised that Sri Ram, in consultation with the then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Latheefa Koya, suggested that the proposals laid down in the letter of representation be accepted by MACC.

“I have also been advised that Thomas had agreed to the suggestion in principle. This paved the way for further negotiations and planning of the mechanism to be adopted, to take place,” Idrus, who is also the public prosecutor, said in a statement today.

However, Thomas had said he would never sanction the deal.

The former attorney-general said it would have betrayed the trust the prime minister and the Pakatan Harapan government had put in him if he had allowed the deal.

“Since Idrus (the attorney-general) is at pains to emphasise the weight he gave to my so-called ‘agreement in principle’ (which itself is a fiction), let me state publicly that I would have never sanctioned this deal.

“I would have lost all credibility in the eyes of the people of Malaysia, whom I endeavoured to serve as public prosecutor to the best of my ability, honestly and professionally, if I had approved it,” he said in a statement today. – May 18, 2020.

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Comments

  • BS....

    Posted 3 years ago by Sam SamaSama · Reply

  • yes I believe you

    Posted 3 years ago by [email protected] Thirunavakarasar · Reply

  • yes I believe you

    Posted 3 years ago by [email protected] Thirunavakarasar · Reply

  • Biasalah no hand tapi AG lantikan PM. ALLAH YG MAHA MENGETAHUI

    Posted 3 years ago by Shahul Hameed Abdul Wahab · Reply

  • ARAHKAN AH UNTUK BUAT REVIEW KE

    Posted 3 years ago by Shahul Hameed Abdul Wahab · Reply

  • BUAT RAYUAN KE ATAS DASAR SALAH FAHAM KE

    Posted 3 years ago by Shahul Hameed Abdul Wahab · Reply

  • ASET ASET TU MACAM MANA PUN DOJ AKAN PULANGKAN. PERLU SIASAT DIMANA BERLAKU KESILAPAN

    Posted 3 years ago by Shahul Hameed Abdul Wahab · Reply

  • why pmo needs to come out with such statement? anyone say you interfere? or feeling guilty...next. zahid..then rosmah..

    Posted 3 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Ha ! Ha ! Ha!
    We were born yesterday.
    Don't you need Pekan's vote to keep your illegitimate backdoor government in power?
    Not to mention your ill-gotten PM-ship?

    Please tell your tall tales to your grandchildren.
    You are not wanted by anybody to be PM.

    Posted 3 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Sounds like somebody is involved in pushing for that decision. Who?

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • I swear i have no part in Riza case. I also swear my government have full support of the rakyat........

    Posted 3 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • No hand but got leg

    Posted 3 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Does anyone really believe this? If they do then they also believe the PMO has no control over the UMNO kleptocrats

    Posted 3 years ago by Loyal Malaysian · Reply

  • You dont have get your hands wet mr moo. You have your lieutenant to do the dirty works for u.

    Posted 3 years ago by Chua Kok Soon · Reply

  • Let's not forget that Najib said the very same during Apandi's misadventures.

    Moo is just morphing into a worse version.

    Posted 3 years ago by Johan M. · Reply

  • Why not put your hand on it and stop this wrongdoing before more of the worse are to come?

    Posted 3 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply