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WORLD NEWS Thursday 9 January 2020

Malaysian graft buster: Voice clips show cover-up by ex-PM

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia Prince Mohammed bin
(AP) — Malaysia's Anti- Zayed to seek an urgent
Corruption Commission meeting to resolve an "im-
on Wednesday released passe" over payment be-
a series of audio record- tween 1MDB and Abu Dha-
ings allegedly showing for- bi's International Petroleum
mer Prime Minister Najib Investment Co. That came
Razak seeking help from just days after the U.S. De-
Abu Dhabi's crown prince partment of Justice filed
and colluding with a for- lawsuits to seize allegedly
mer prosecutor to conceal ill-gotten assets linked to
wrongdoings linked to a 1MDB and said at least $3.5
massive corruption scan- billion was misappropriated
dal. from the fund by people
The voice clips marked a close to Najib.
new blow to Najib, who has Najib also allegedly asked
denied any misdeeds in the Mohammed to forge a
multimillion-dollar looting of loan agreement to help
the 1MDB investment fund his stepson and Hollywood
and is on trial for graft after producer Riza Aziz, who
his election defeat in May was named in the U.S.
2018. lawsuit. Najib said a loan
Commission chief Latheefa agreement would show
Koya said the nine phone Latheefa Koya, chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, speaks during a press confer- the 1MDB money to Riza's
conversations, recorded ence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. production firm Red Gran-
from January 2016 to July Associated Press ite came from a legitimate
2016, revealed a "clear source. "I don't want him
cover-up and criminal con- She said the agency has given to police for further cover-up and subversion of to be a victim when he
spiracy" by Najib to stifle in- verified that the clips were action. justice," Latheefa said. was totally unaware of the
vestigations, fabricate false genuine but declined to "We can confirm their ab- In a July 26, 2016, conver- source of money," Najib
evidence and obstruct jus- say how it obtained them. solute authenticity. The sation, Najib purportedly told the prince, according
tice in the 1MDB scandal. She said the clips will be contents are shocking; it's a called Abu Dhabi's Crown to the phone recordings. q

Kenyan lawyer says he is blocked from returning home

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Miguna was first deported Kenya's president in a re-
A Kenyan lawyer says he after he swore in Kenyan cent speech alluded to Mi-
was removed from an Air opposition leader Raila guna's situation, saying the
France flight as he tried to Odinga in early 2018 as the government did not have
return home months after "people's president" to pro- objections to his travel.
being deported to Can- test elections that saw Pres- In 2018 Kenyatta's govern-
ada, despite court orders ident Uhuru Kenyatta sworn ment had warned that
saying he is a Kenyan citi- in for a second term. The any attempt to swear in
zen and should be accord- opposition boycotted the opposition leader Odinga
ed all rights. vote and called it flawed. was treasonous and those
Miguna Miguna said in a Kenya's government as- attending the ceremony
Facebook post Wednes- serted that Miguna is a faced arrest. Despite that,
day he had been to Ger- Canadian citizen and had tens of thousands attend-
many, Austria, France and acquired Kenyan citizen- ed the swearing-in.
Switzerland in his attempt ship illegally. But Kenya's Kenyatta and Odinga In this Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 file photo, opposition politician Mi-
to get home. Air France high court later ordered shook hands in March 2018, guna Miguna, center, raises his fist as a gesture to the crowd
confirmed the Paris inci- that his Kenyan passport ending months of deadly as he stands next to opposition leader Raila Odinga, right, as
dent in a tweet, saying it be restored and he be giv- political turmoil that also Odinga holds an oath during a mock "swearing-in" ceremony
had received a request en safe passage into the hurt the East African na- at Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. Associated Press
from Kenyan officials. country. tion's economy.q