Ex-PM arrested within two months of downfall

KUALA LUMPUR: Two months ago he was the powerful prime minister of the country. But Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s fortunes changed after Barisan Nasional’s shock defeat in the 14th general election (GE14).  He was arrested yesterday over alleged wrongdoings relating to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). He is expected to be charged in court today.

Here's a timeline of the developments:

May 9: Barisan Nasional (BN), led by Najib, loses in GE14.

May 12: Najib resigns as BN chairman and Umno president.

Immigration Department declares a blacklist on Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor from leaving the country.

Police raid the Pavilion Residences apartment block at which relatives of Najib had been staying. They search for sensitive documents after learning that a government vehicle had delivered dozens of boxes containing designer handbags and other items.

May 13: Police cordon off the exit to and from the entrance to Najib’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur.

May 14: More than 50 visitors turn up at Najib’s residence.

May 16:: Police said to be conducting searches in Najib’s Taman Duta residence and a high-end condo in Pavilion Residences.

May 17: Police search five places, including Najib’s family home, in connection with investigations into 1MDB.

Several personal items such as handbags, clothes and gifts seized from the Taman Duta residence.

Police have been trying to drill open an old safe that is claimed to have been locked for 20 years.

May 18: Two locksmiths succeed in opening an old safe in Najib’s residence and recover an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police raid a condo in Pavillion Residences and seize 72 pieces of luggage containing cash in various currencies and a "rather big amount" of jewellery and 284 boxes containing numerous designer handbags.

May 21: A special task force headed by former Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and three others formed to investigate 1MDB.

They include Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull who comes out of retirement to head the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

May 22: Najib arrives at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to be questioned over events related to 1MDB.

May 23: Police say the amount of cash seized from posh condos linked to Najib at Pavilion Residences totalled about RM120 million.

May 24: Najib questioned further by the MACC on dealings made by SRC International.

Also appearing at the MACC headquarters is Andre Xavier Justo, a former employee of PetroSaudi International Ltd who was in the spotlight for leaking information about his former employer's joint venture with 1MDB.

May 25: Police confirm that the cash seized from an empty apartment in Pavilion Residences totalled RM114 million.

May 30: Police record Najib’s statement pertaining to the inspections and raids on three residential units at the Pavilion Residences.

June 5: Rosmah arrives at the MACC headquarters for questioning to assist in investigations related to SRC International.

June 7: Inland Revenue Board says it will reexamine the tax treatment on the RM2.6 billion that was deposited into Najib's personal account in 2013, which was claimed to be a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.

June 11: Police officers conduct a search of a two-storey bungalow in Putrajaya — which is believed to have been used by Najib as a “safe house”.

June 18: Najib, Rosmah and several of their family members holiday in Langkawi.

June 20: Najib says he should not be blamed for the 1MDB scandal, and declares he knows nothing about money from the state fund appearing in his personal account.

June 21: Najib denies any misappropriation of money by 1MDB from TRX City Sdn Bhd.

June 25: Authorities remand a former aide of Najib to assist in 1MDB related investigations.

June 27: Police estimate the value of items seized from six properties linked to Najib at RM1.1 billion.

June 28: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Najib will be charged in court soon.

June 29: Umno’s bank accounts are frozen as part of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation from 1MDB.

July 2: New Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is questioned at the MACC headquarters over his meeting with a member of the Saudi royal family.

The 1MDB Special Task Force is reported to have frozen 408 bank accounts of individuals, political parties and non-governmental organisations worth RM1.1 billion.

July 3: Ahmad Zahid questioned further by the MACC. Also summoned for questioning were Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz and Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Najib arrested at his house in Jalan Langgak Duta at 2.35pm, and brought to the MACC headquarters.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 4, 2018.

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