DEFENCE Minister Hishamuddin Hussein urged the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to press charges if they have concrete proof of alleged misapproriation of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

“They should not make multiple statements without taking any actions.

“When they do press charges, those who are charged would have the opportunity to clear their names,” he said the  at a briefing session of the party’s handbook on 14th general election at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)

He also said statements made without any further actions would only jeopardize DoJ’s credibility.

On June 15 , the DoJ filed a civil action to seize assets worth US$540 million (RM2.3 billion), believed to have been purchased using money siphoned from state investment fund 1MDB.

This brings the total amount of allegedly misappropriated funds from 1MDB to US$4.5 billion.

The DoJ is seeking to seize, among others, Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low’s, luxury yacht called Equanimity which is worth US$165 million and rights to the film “Dumb and Dumber To” produced by Red Granite, a production house co-owned by Riza Aziz, Najib’s stepson.

The DoJ suit also noted that Low had purchased, using money from 1MDB, a 22-carat pink diamond necklace worth US$27.3 million for the “wife of Malaysian Official No. 1” (MO1).

MO1 was previously identified as the prime minister by a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department

“Those are merely allegations. They need to charge because right now it is just a speculation,” he added.

Yesterday, Rosmah Mansor threatened to sue those who produce “false, malicious publications or postings” against her, but legal experts say it is likely an empty threat. – June 18, 2017.