KUALA LUMPUR – Two of ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s former officers are among those who returned monies and assets linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) from 2023 until February 5 of this year.
They are Datuk Amhari Efendi, Najib’s former special officer, who returned RM4.55 million, and Mohammad Kamal Yan Yahaya, the ex-prime minister’s former international affairs adviser, who forfeited three condominiums worth RM7.05 million.
These amounts are part of the RM23.91 million in funds and assets recovered by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
In a statement today, the MACC said Amhari had voluntarily surrendered a total of RM4,551,399.45 to the government via a money transfer from the Swiss bank BSI.
Meanwhile, on November 8 of last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued an order to confiscate the three condominium units owned by Kamal.
“Mohammad Kamal had received funds from 1MDB through Project Magnolia, Project Maximus, and Project Catalyze, which were deposited into the Spring Elite International Limited company account at BSI Bank in Singapore, in which he holds an interest.
These three asset recovery processes have been initiated subsequent to the trial of former Goldman Sachs banker Ng Chong Hwa, better known as Roger Ng, in the Brooklyn Federal Court in the United States in February 2022, the MACC said.
As a result of this, on Monday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued an order for the confiscation of properties belonging to the associates of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, namely Jerome Lee Tak Loong and his wife, Koay Ying Ying, in both Malaysia and Singapore, it added.
“The total value of these confiscated properties amounts to RM11.75 million.
“The confiscation application was filed under Section 56 and Section 64 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA),” it added.
Another RM556,275.64 was recovered on August 30, 2023, from Nurzahid Taib, a former 1MDB official who had received funds from 1MDB for Project Maximus and Project Catalyze.
“These funds were credited to a Turquoise Coast Offshore Incorporated account in which the individual holds an interest.
“The money was recovered via an account release order under Section 60 of (AMLATFPUAA) on June 26, 2023,” it added.
The graft busters said these monies and assets were obtained through confiscation and seizure, including court processes as well as voluntary surrender involving five individuals.
“The recovery of assets from 1MDB, both domestically and abroad, has resulted in the successful retrieval of funds and assets by MACC’s Anti-Money Laundering Division from last year until February 5 totalling RM23,911,460.90,” it said.
Until now, a total of RM29.03 billion in assets related to 1MDB have been successfully retrieved through the collaboration between the MACC and the 1MDB Asset Recovery Task Force, with assistance from various foreign agencies. – February 8, 2024