1MDB, WSJ and Najib: What we know so far

Timeline follows the wake of the WSJ report on alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds

KUALA LUMPUR: Quoting an 'unnamed investigator', The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and the Sarawak Report published an article on July 3 alleging the misappropriation of funds from the national strategic development company, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) .

The report claimed that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was channeled from 1MDB into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal bank accounts.

On the same day, the Prime Minister's Office dismissed the WSJ report and said it was an act of political sabotage to topple a democratically-elected prime minister.

1MDB also stated that it had never channeled any funds to Najib.

Following the report on July 3, a special task force was set up to investigate the alleged misappropriation of funds.

The task force comprised four agencies namely the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Royal Malaysian Police and Bank Negara Malaysia.

Here's what happened since:

July 4:

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abu Gani Patail confirmed that a special task force had begun its investigation on the 1MDB issue and that they (task force personnel) had collected a number of documents to be reviewed, linked to the alleged transfer of funds into the Najib's personal account.

Gani said the task force conducted raids the same day on the premises of three companies linked to the funds; SRC International Sdn Bhd, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd.

July 7:

The task force said six bank accounts related to the investigation were frozen.

The order to freeze the six accounts was issued on July 6.

July 8:

Task force officials removed a series of documents from the 1MDB office in Jalan Sultan Ismail after more than eight hours of raid.

An approximate 20 boxes of what was believed to be documents linked to the scandal - were ferried away in a police truck after the raid.

PHOTO GALLERY: Task force officials raid 1MDB office

Najib initiates legal action against the WSJ. Legal firm, Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak confirmed a letter was sent to the New York-based publication to seek clarification about the allegations made in the article.

July 9:

Abdul Gani Patail said two Ambank Islamic bank accounts under the name of Najib were not frozen, because both accounts were closed much earlier.

He said the accounts were closed on August 30, 2013 and March 9, 2015. He said the task force had obtained bank documents related to the two closed documents.

Later in the day, the Sarawak Report claimed that RM2 million was deposited to the personal account of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. The article also alleged the particular bank account was placed under investigation related to inquiries about the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

July 10:

The task force revealed that they already knew about Rosmah's account even before the portal ran a story on it. They said the matter 'is being investigated'.

Later in the day, Rosmah's lawyers issued a statement citing the report as 'irresponsible' and done with 'malicious' intent.

The law firm representing Rosmah, Messrs Noorhajran Mohd Noor also called on BNM to conduct a probe within 72 hours and issue its findings into the unauthorised disclosure on the part of the bank.

Malaysian authorities say they received information about the accounts belonging to a Malaysian individual known as Jho Low, as part of a probe into allegations of misappropriation of money from 1MDB.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it will be calling up Jho Low as a witness in the investigation proceedings on 1MDB.

July 12:

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) denied its officers were involved in the leaking of confidential information to the media.

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar denied police are investigating three senior Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) officers for allegedly leaking confidential information to the media.

- Source: Astro Awani