THE Malaysian and Singaporean 1MDB special task forces will collaborate to return to the Malaysian government funds believed to have been embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The agreement was reached at a meeting between the two task forces at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya today.

According to a statement issued by the Malaysian 1MDB special task force, the cooperation between the two parties also aimed to collect evidence and find witnesses in Singapore as soon as possible. 

“The teams will also follow the money trail and find existing assets,” the statement read.

The meeting was attended by nine senior officers from the Singapore investigation team comprising representatives of Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers, Commercial Affairs Department and the Monetary Authority Singapore.

Malaysia was represented by officials from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, MACC, police force and Bank Negara Malaysia.

The four joint chiefs of the Malaysian 1MDB special task force, namely former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, former MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, current MACC chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull and Bukit Aman Special Branch director Abdul Hamid Bador, were also present.

On May 21, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the formation of the special task force to carry out detailed investigations, detection and seizure of assets, as well as prosecution against individuals found to have committed wrongdoing in the management of 1MDB. – Bernama, May 31, 2018.