Malaysia’s ex-PM, Najib Razak, allegedly requested Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (UAE) to forge documents for the 1MDB scandal. The revelation came after a series of audio clips were played in a press conference by the Malaysian anti-graft officials on January 8.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) played nine audio recordings of telephonic conversations between Najib, UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, and Malaysian and Emirati officials, from 2016, that expose crucial aspects of the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal.

What is the 1Mdb fund

Najib has been facing 42 criminal charges in five different audit trials for the 1MDB scandal, investigations of which are launched in at least six countries, including the United States, Singapore, and Switzerland. However, the former Malaysian PM has plead not guilty.

As per the records of Malaysian and U.S. authorities, an amount of over 4.5 billion USD was embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), co-founded by Najib in 2009.

Audio clips reveal Najib-MBZ connection

In one audio clip, Najib called UAE’s leader Mohammed bin Zayed, aka MBZ, to meet and discuss how to get away with the 1MDB scandal, involving Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co.

In another recording, Najib could be heard asking MBZ for help to forge a loan agreement that testifies the transfer of funds to Najib’s stepson, Riza Aziz, from UAE’s International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), stashing money stolen from 1MDB.

In third recording, Rosmah asked Najib to recede an arbitration between 1MDB and IPIC. They also mentioned inviting delegates from the UAE to resolve the issue without mediation.

These recordings have been verified by MACC that claims the clips are totally authentic, chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said.

What went wrong

In 2009, shortly after Najib Razak became prime minister, he established the 1MDB as a strategic sovereign wealth fund in Malaysia. Contrary to its vision, the fund began issuing bonds and acquiring multi-billion dollar power plants through debt, with transactions of billions being unrecorded.

As the scandal unveiled, Khadem Al Qubaisi, a former confidant of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, was jailed for his alleged involvement in 1MDB. However, he maintained that he was being unfairly blamed for the UAE’s role in 1MDB scandal, and had been forced by Emirati authorities to turn over his assets.

Khadem Al Qubaisi was being compelled to pass his assets to a private organization owned by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi’s royal family.

1MDB mastermind Jho Low, whose misconduct disrupted Malaysia and Goldman Sachs also claimed that he was being wrongly blamed for someone else’s deeds.

Jho Low understated his part in 1MDB scandal, calling himself as a “mediator” who was sought after for his goodwill among the influential foreign businessmen and decision makers.

The Najib 1MDB audit trail for corruption and money laundering in the 1MDB case will resume on February 18, 2020.

Sources —

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-08/malaysia-shows-recordings-of-najib-s-effort-to-seek-help-on-1mdb