Putrajaya seizes RM600,000 on Riza’s plea bargain

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 19 May 2020 12:10PM · 5 Comments

The government has seized some RM600,000 in various currencies from Riza Aziz as part of a plea deal. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 19, 2020.

AROUND RM600,000 in various currencies that were once claimed by Najib Razak’s stepson, Riza Aziz, will be forfeited as part of a plea deal, the Kuala Lumpur High Court was informed today.

Riza is among respondents from Najib’s family that are targeted in a RM680 million forfeiture suit by Putrajaya of items seized on May 17, June 11 and August 2, 2018.  

Among items that will be forfeited on Riza’s part will be RM537,000 in cash, £2,700 (RM14,370) and Sri Lanka rupee 2,870,000 (RM67,172), the deputy public prosecutor told the court during case management today.

This follows the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Riza by a separate court over his US$248 million money-laundering case of funds allegedly stolen from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

The DNAA was part of an agreement for him to return US$107 million.

Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the forfeiture of goods seized from the homes of Riza, former prime minister Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor on May 17.

Deputy public prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin informed the court of the deal following reaching  agreement to forfeit their properties in Malaysia and the United States.

Lawyers Syahirah Hanapiah, who appeared for Najib, and Azrul Zulkifli Stork, who represented Rosmah and Riza, did not object. Riza was absent from court today.

On May 7 last year, Putrajaya filed a forfeiture notice for hundreds of items, including designer handbags and watches, properties, vehicles and cash, seized from Najib, Rosmah and their three children, including Riza, and other individuals and companies linked to the couple.

Nor Ashman Razak and Nooryana Najwa were the couple’s other two children named in the suit.

Other respondents were Kyizzad, Senijauhar Sdn Bhd, Aiman Ruslan, Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, Yayasan Semesta, Yayasan Mustika Kasih, Rembulan Kembara, former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, Ng’s wife Lim Hwee Bin, and Low Taek Jho’s mother Goh Gaik Ewe and his alleged associates Kee Kok Thiam, Tan Vern Tact and Geh Choh Hun. – May 19, 2020.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • "Putrajaya" did nothing. It was the US DOJ who did all the hard work of recovering the assets. Moo is trying to pull a fast one. Next off the hook? All the rest.

    Posted 6 years ago by Johan M. · Reply

  • A sandiwara by the backdoor government to show the feudalistic Malays that proper action has been taken against Riza for his crime when in actuality fact a rotten deal has been agreed with Riza at the expense of the countrys tax payers.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Grammy award sandiwara.

    Posted 6 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

  • Already seized. So no new amount :-D

    Posted 6 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • It really seem to me all is not lost of your experience as a film producer in view that you can turn around this real life situation and all you need to do is just to pay peanuts, just make sure I don't bump into you as I tell you now a spit on your face serve me well. To the government of PN and Pak Din you are telling the world that its okay to steal from your RAKYAT and if and when you get caught cam always make a deal to safe your skin. To the younger Malaysia this will not be in your history text book but it's a message with clear good example if you want to be a crook by all means be one but just make sure it's a good heist so that you can have a ready made exit prepare for you by the very people who are entrusted to uphold the law of the land.

    Posted 6 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply