Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak was summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to answer questions about his administration's purchase of two French-made submarines. The investigation probes a controversial U.S. $1.2 billion deal signed sixteen years ago when he is still the country's defense minister which is used to purchase Scorpene-class submarines.
Recently, Najib, his wife and some of his allies faced charges following his election loss and a series of corruption scandals that angered the public. The accusations against the former prime minister started after the 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal circulated publicly. According to reports about the U.S. $4.5 billion was misused from 1MDB by its high ranking officials and their associates starting 2009 until 2014.
The latest charge against the leader is about the controversial deal of the submarines. According to a MACC official, MACC officials questioned Najib for four hours over the deal on Monday. The controversy circulated that a French submarine maker allegedly paid more than 114 million euros in kickbacks to a shell company associated with Abdul Razak Baginda. Baginda is a close associate of the former minister and he is the broker of the deal.
In 2006, Altantuya Shaaribuu, Razak Baginda's mistress, was shot dead and blown to pieces by a military-grade explosive near Kuala Lumpur. Shaariibuu was rumored to have demanded her cut for translating during negotiations. The case was forgotten after the court ruled that Baginda is innocent of being an accessory to her death. The case, however, created a suspicion that it is a huge cover-up to protect the prime minister.
Najib's defeat in the election reignited the Malaysian anti-corruption body's interest. According to a MACC official, they are also planning to summon Razak Baginda for questioning in their probe of the submarine purchase scandal.
In 2010, a French investigation proved that four French executives are involved in the submarine deal and the criminal case charged against Razak Baginda. The accused denies involvement in the cases filed against them. Malaysian authorities investigations failed to link Najib directly to the cases filed at him.
At least six countries have on-going corruption and money-laundering investigations involving the 1MDB case. According to reports, the US$700 million of the whole misused amount was diverted into Najib's personal bank accounts.
The US Department of Justice said that Goldman Sachs is among the companies involved in the 1MDB fund Scam. Two former bankers of the company are facing charges earlier this month.
