Malaysia Questions Najib over Kickbacks in Scorpene Submarine Deal

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators have reopened a 16 year old corruption probe involving former Prime Minister Najib Razak in the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines.

The former Prime Minister has been summoned to give a statement on the Scorpene-class submarine deal on Monday and the investigators are looking at whether there has been any kickbacks in the procurement of two submarines by Malaysia from French DCN international (DCNI, now renamed as Naval Group) in 2002, according to a local daily, The Star citing MACC sources as saying.

The French authorities began investigating the deal after Malaysian human rights group Suaram alleged the sale resulted in some US$130 million (S$178.3 million) of commissions being paid to a company linked to Najib.

Earlier investigations by the Malaysian authorities did not find any evidence linking Najib directly to corruption in the deal.

The US authorities say US$4.5 billion was siphoned from 1MDB and about US$700 million was diverted into Najib's personal bank accounts. He has denied any wrongdoing.