Malaysia's attorney-general says US$681 million ($1 billion) transferred into Prime Minister Najib Razak's personal bank account was a gift from the royal family in Saudi Arabia and that there are no criminal offences or corruption involved.
The involvement of the Saudi royal family is an unexpected twist in a scandal over the mysterious funds transfer and the troubles of indebted state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), whose advisory board Najib chairs.
"I am satisfied with the findings that the funds were not a form of graft or bribery," the Attorney-General, Mohamed Apandi Ali, told a hastily called news conference yesterday, where a statement was issued that said Najib had returned US$620 million to the royal family because it had not been used.
"There was no reason given as to why the donation was made to PM Najib," Apandi said.
He said no criminal offence was committed by Najib in relation to three investigations submitted by Malaysia's anti-graft agency and that no further action would be taken.
