Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi
PUTRAJAYA: The government's primary focus on the 1MDB issue is recovering the company's assets, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
This comes amid fugitive financier Low Taek Jho or Jho Low's settlement with the United States Department of Justice (DoJ).
"That matter is between them," Saifuddin told reporters after attending the Larian Hari Polis 2024.
"When those assets are returned to the DoJ, we know it involves our country's assets, so naturally our focus is on asset recovery, that's our priority," he said.
Asked if the government was not focused on pursuing Jho Low, Saifuddin said the government's focus "is on asset recovery."
Saifuddin said under former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the government entered into a settlement, and this was followed by another settlement during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's tenure as prime minister.
He said it has been reported that DoJ has identified several assets linked to 1MDB and this was why the government was focused on asset recovery.
Also present at the event was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
On June 28, it was reported that the DoJ entered into a confidential settlement with Low
According to documents reviewed by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the settlement will "forever resolve the United States' civil, criminal, and administrative asset forfeiture actions or proceedings relating to the disposition" of assets tied to 1MDB.
The settlement plan reportedly involves the surrendering of assets previously identified by authorities, as well as those not previously claimed or captured by prosecuting agencies worldwide.