The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has set up a new special committee tasked solely with investigating allegations surrounding national investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said today.
The new committee’s formation was mooted after the release of the report on 1MDB by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and will involve internal departments from within the PDRM.
Khalid told Harian Metro that prior to the presentation of the PAC’s report, the PDRM had halted its own probes into 1MDB. Now, he says the new police committee will begin reopening case files and calling up witnesses.
“The team of special investigators was formed last Thursday,” he said.
“We will be calling up several witnesses, including former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi to assist in investigations.”
He added that the new committee will act on the PAC’s recommendations to further probe issues raised in the parliamentary committee’s report.
“We will see if there have been any criminal elements in the ensuing investigation, or if the issues arose from violations of corporate ethics. The findings of the investigations will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” Khalid said.
The case will be probed under Sections 409 and 420 of the Penal Code, which deal with criminal breach of trust and cheating, respectively.
Khalid also warned the public against accusing the investigations into 1MDB’s many scandals of being biased.
“Each case requires a different approach and investigation. So, there’s no need to doubt the actions of the police in this matter,” he said.
