ISTANBUL: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir has confirmed that the money deposited into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bank account was a donation.
He said donation originated from the Kingdom, and that the middle east nation did not expect anything in return.
Al-Jubeir said to his knowledge, the issue had been resolved following investigation conducted by the Malaysia’s Attorney-General Chambers.
“We are aware of the donation and it is a genuine donation with nothing expected in return. We are also fully aware that the Attorney-General of Malaysia has thoroughly investigated the matter and found no wrongdoing.
“So, as far as we are concerned, the matter is closed,” Al-Jubeir told Malaysian reporters on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Istanbul on Thursday.
This follows allegations by several parties that funds totaling RM2.6 billion was channeled from sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) into Najib’s personal bank account.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently admitted the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s account was a donation from Saudi Arabia, and not from 1MDB as previously alleged.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali had, on Jan 26, cleared Najib of any wrongdoing in relation to investigations into the SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion alleged to have been deposited into the prime minister's bank account.