PUTRAJAYA: In an audio recording, the voice of a man, allegedly former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was heard making a special request to a "Royal Highness" in a bid to help clear his son from money laundering accusations.
The recording, suggesting attempts to cover-up criminal conspiracy by a top leader in the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, was among nine sets received by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), revealed to the media today in a press conference.
MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said the commission believed that the "Royal Highness" being referred to in this particular recording was the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
In the recording, played to packed room of reporters, here, "Najib" related to the "Royal Highness" the predicament faced by his son, "Riza".
While "Riza's" full name was never mentioned in the recording, it is learned that the man was referring to Hollywood movie producer Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, Najib's stepson.
Man 1: I also have this personal request, Your Highness.
Man 2: Yes.
Man 1: That relates to Riza, my son, and his movie. You see, the problem is relatively small. If, there can be an agreement with "Sheikh Mansour" to have loan agreement signed. And he will pay it back according to the schedule. That will show that there is a legitimate financing package and that it is not money laundering. At the moment he is under a bit of pressure in (the United States of) America. I am worried about him in case he was made a scapegoat.
The man alleged to be Najib by Latheefa also asked the "Royal Highness" if the loan agreement could be signed immediately.
It was also heard that "Najib" had said that "his son" was innocent.
Man 1: He is totally innocent, all he wanted was to make movie. Now they are trying to connect him with 1MDB’s (1Malaysia Development Bhd) money which totally came as a shock to him.
The man was also heard in the recording telling the "Royal Highness" that the issue could become "catastrophic" if nothing was done to manage it.
Man 1: Can we work out how can we resolve this?
Man 2: Mister prime minister, believe me, I ought to finish this. This is bad.
Man 1: Thank You, thank you Your Highness. This is very bad. Very serious. It could lead to something very very unforeseen and catastrophic for me, our government and also, for you, on your side. So, it is to our mutual interest that we be so close. We need to resolve this. This is not something which is not impossible. It is actually something within our means to resolve it.
Elaborating further on the recording, Latheefa said Sheikh Mansour mentioned in the conversation is the chairman of Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).
In another recording revealed to the press, "Najib" was heard in a phone conversation with a woman, allegedly Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, in which the latter had asked the former if she could advise him, also calling him "darling".
On July 5 last year, Riza pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to five charges of involvement in money laundering activities involving US$248 million (RM1.25 billion), which were misappropriated from the sovereign wealth fund.
According to the charges, Riza, popularly known as Riza Aziz, allegedly received proceeds from unlawful activities that originated from 1MDB amounting to US$248,173,104, which was transferred into two of Red Granite Productions Inc’s accounts via wire transfer.