KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 ― Switzerland's Attorney-General’s Office (OAG) has expressed satisfaction with Malaysia’s commitment to assist in its criminal investigation on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
OAG spokesman Nathalie Guth said Malaysia’s Attorney-General’s Chambers have acknowledged receiving the OAG’s request for mutual legal assistance after it was transmitted on February 4 to the Foreign Affairs Ministry here.
“Meanwhile, the Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) have acknowledged receipt of the request and the OAG stands in contact with the AGC for its execution.
“The OAG took note with satisfaction of the reaction of its Malaysian counterpart and of its commitment to fully support Switzerland’s request for mutual assistance,” Guth told Malay Mail Online via email yesterday.
The Economist said in an article titled “Malaysia’s 1MDB affair: Follow the money, if you can” published last Saturday that it seemed unlikely that Malaysia would assist Switzerland, noting that it would be hard to piece together the controversial case of the local state investment firm if the country at the centre of the investigation was unhelpful.
The London-based publication also accused Malaysia of using “blocking tactics” by telling Switzerland to file its request for mutual legal assistance through Wisma Putra.
“That is unusual: such requests would more typically go through the justice ministry, which is viewed abroad as less political,” said The Economist.
Swiss AG Michael Lauber said in a media statement on January 29 that his office has contacted Malaysia formally to request for aid in his investigation on a possible violation of Switzerland’s laws by 1MDB, which he said detected suspected misappropriation of nearly US$4 billion (RM16.4 billion).
The funds believed to have been stolen from Malaysian state-owned companies had been earmarked for economic and social development projects in Malaysia, he said.
Lauber said the possible violations included corruption, abuse of public office, money laundering, and criminal mismanagement.
THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE
