Daim: Steal Milo you go to jail, steal billions you walk away smiling

Malaysians are dissatisfied over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) of former premier Najib Razak’s stepson, Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, said Daim Zainuddin.

The former finance minister, in an interview published by The Malaysian Insight, asserted that the people’s dissatisfaction arose from the inconsistent punishments meted by the courts against those breaking the law.

“The rakyat wants to know why, when you steal Milo you go to jail, but when you steal billions of ringgit, you walk away smiling?

“The rakyat think it is a really good deal for him (Riza).

“He does not have to spend any time behind bars and he is allowed to keep more than RM500 mil in stolen money,” Daim was quoted in the report.

Riza, who was charged under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, was granted a DNAA on May 14.

Daim also said that the deal struck between the attorney-general and Riza was lopsided and appeared to be more beneficial to Riza.

“People would like to know why he (Riza) is not in jail and why he is allowed to keep more than half of the money he is accused of stealing,” Daim was quoted as saying.

In May, Riza was granted a conditional release from five counts of money-laundering charges over more than US$248 mil (around RM1.08 bil) of alleged 1MDB funds.

Although the settlement value was initially unspecified, Attorney-General Idrus Harun had said it would result in the Malaysian government’s expected recovery of around US$108 mil (subject to the eventual proceeds from the sale of assets that Riza would have to give up his rights to and after deduction of associated costs) to be credited into the 1MDB Asset Recovery Trust Account.

In the event Riza fails to comply with conditions within the settlement, the prosecution can haul him to court once again to face the same charges. – June 17, 2020

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