(July 31): Malaysia's anti-graft authorities have denied drafting charges against Datuk Seri Najib Razak for criminal breach of trust, saying it is still investigating the case of government money allegedly flowing into the prime minister's private account.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also said it has not sent the investigation papers to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) for its probe into SRC International Sdn Bhd's funds.

"Referring to the report by Sarawak Report about the existence of the draft charge sheet, the MACC would like to explain that the investigation papers regarding the SRC International issue has yet to be sent to the AGC," the anti-graft body said in a statement today.

"MACC stresses that the investigation into SRC International is still ongoing. Therefore, the issue of the draft charge sheet regarding the case should not arise at all."

The whistleblower site yesterday published a purported draft charge sheet Najib, allegedly done by former Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as part of the investigations into the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

MACC said today that it was still in the process of locating several other important witnesses to complete its investigations, adding that it would not reveal any information regarding the details of the investigation to any party as it was "against the law".

"We also repeat that our responsibility is not to conduct investigations on graft cases and not to topple any government. As an independent commission, MACC will conduct free, transparent and professional investigations," it said.

This is similar to the statement by the newly appointed A-G Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali this morning, in which he had said that details of the probe into 1MDB including witness statements would not be disclosed.

He said that it would also be inappropriate to disclose the advice, instructions, directions or guidance the AGC has given to the task force investigating the fund.

"While the public is entitled to be informed, details of criminal investigations which comprise of, among other things, contents of statements given by witnesses are privileged and the law prohibits such matters to be disclosed," the A-G said in a statement today.

MACC is part of the task force, which includes the AGC, the Royal Malaysian Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, and it should be allowed to conduct the probe without fear or favour.

The task force was formed earlier this month to investigate 1MDB and claims that billions of ringgit were transferred from other companies linked to the fund into Najib's personal accounts.

Speculations have been rife that the abrupt removal of Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as attorney-general on Monday was so that Najib, who is being investigated over the 1MDB scandal, could stay on in office.

The Wall Street Journal and whistleblower website Sarawak Report reported that up to US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) was allegedly transferred from state-owned funds into two bank accounts under Najib's name with AmBank in early 2013.

The prime minister, however, has denied ever taking any funds from 1MDB for "personal gain" but has not commented directly on the fund transfers. His accounts which allegedly received the funds have since been closed. – The Malaysian Insider