Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(Sept 18): Former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan was arrested by police this evening, just hours after posting on Facebook that he is being investigated for submitting evidence related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to the Swiss attorney-general in Bern, Switzerland.

Khairuddin, the ex-Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief, was picked up from his home this evening and was taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

Lawyer Matthias Chang confirmed the arrest.

"Yes, he was picked up from his house. He is being taken to Dang Wangi," Chang told The Malaysian Insider.

Earlier today, Khairuddin and Chang were stopped from leaving the country by immigration officials at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Khairuddin told The Malaysian Insider that police had directed the Immigration Department to prevent him from leaving Malaysia.

"That's right, I've been barred from leaving the country by the Immigration Department on the orders of Bukit Aman," he had said through Whatsapp.

Writing on his Facebook later, he said police had summoned him for questioning at its headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday at 11am.

He also said he had spoken with the investigating officer who told him he will be questioned for handing in evidence related to the 1MDB scandal to the Swiss Attorney-General's Chambers.

Khairuddin had handed the evidence to the Swiss authorities on August 20, and urged them to investigate the debt laden state investment arm's activities involving Swiss and international banks.

"I have the right to lodge reports in any country in this world, on the condition that it is in accordance with international laws," wrote Khairuddin.

He insisted that he had only acted in the country's best interests, and that he had the locus standi to lodge a report with Swiss authorities.

He had given his assurance to cooperate with the police and added he would appear at Bukit Aman on Monday as requested.

Khairuddin, who was sacked from Umno earlier this year for being a bankrupt, lodged reports with Hong Kong, British, and French police over 1MDB in July and August.

In their response, Malaysian government officials accused Khairuddin of lodging "false and politically motivated police reports" and pushing the same agenda as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has been insistent in his calls for Najib to step down. – The Malaysian Insider

 

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