New: MACC chief replaced by Najib to stop SRC, 1MDB probes

A prosecution witness told the High Court that Najib Razak appointed a new MACC chief commissioner to stop the agency’s investigation into the SRC International and 1MDB corruption cases. MACC investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin said Dzulkifli Ahmad was appointed the anti-graft agency’s chief commissioner in July 2016, replacing Abu Kassim Mohamed. Aida testified that Abu Kassim was replaced to protect Najib – the then prime minister and finance minister – from investigation and prosecution in the SRC and 1MDB cases.

MACC chief

“I received instructions to discontinue the probe on 1MDB. I cannot remember who gave the instructions. I have to look at the investigation papers (for the information),” she said when examined by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib. In July 2015, a special task force comprising officers from theAGC, MACC, Bukit Aman and BNM began a probe after reports of money banked in Najib’s accounts.