KUALA LUMPUR: Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda has denied that he has been charged in France over an alleged purchase of Scorpene submarines in 2002.
In a statement issued by his office on Tuesday said, Abdul Razak claimed he has not committed any crime of corruption or breached laws with regards to the purchase.
He said a formal investigation is being carried out instead and he welcomed the French inquiry.
“The French inquiry is on alleged corruption in the purchase of the Scorpene submarines in 2002. It must be emphasised that it is an ongoing inquiry and no formal charges in a court of law have been brought against any individuals,” he said.
“French news reports on July 19 and Aug 1 have stated that individuals involved in the purchase have been ‘charged’.
“These reports have been carried out in other mass media and are misleading. The term ‘charged’ in the context of the inquiry means placing the said individuals under ‘formal investigation’,” he said, adding that true facts of the matter were not reported.
Abdul Razak also explained that the French legal process is different from the Malaysian legal process.
AFP reported on Tuesday that Abdul Razak had been charged in Paris on July 18 over the alleged kickbacks from the 2002 sale of submarines to Malaysia.
The political analyst was charged with the so called “active and passive complicity in corruption” and "misappropriation of corporate assets", the report stated.