What information did the police provide during the 2018 briefings?

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Police Provided Updates on 1MDB Investigations to Key Figures in 2018

During 2018, the police conducted several briefings for prominent political figures, including then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then-Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, to provide updates on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal investigations. These briefings were initiated at the request of these individuals, who sought to understand the progress and reasons for the perceived delay in charging former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and other implicated parties. The police consistently conveyed that investigations were ongoing and that the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) held the ultimate decision-making authority on whether to press charges.
Status of Investigations and Need for Foreign Evidence

In an initial briefing held on May 15, 2018, at the Prime Minister’s Office's behest, the police informed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that investigations into the 1MDB case had not yet been completed. The primary reason cited for this delay was the necessity of obtaining evidence from abroad through mutual legal assistance channels. This indicated that the completeness of the investigation was contingent on international cooperation, a factor that could impact the timeline for bringing charges.
Submission of Investigation Papers to AGC

During a subsequent meeting with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at his residence in July 2018, the police clarified that the investigation papers pertaining to the 1MDB case had already been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers. At this point, the police indicated that the AGC, under then Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, was responsible for deciding on the appropriate charges. This established a clear demarcation of responsibilities, with the police concluding their investigative phase and passing the matter to the prosecution.
Focus on Najib and 1MDB Management

Briefings conducted for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on July 23, 2018, and Tun Daim Zainuddin on August 9, 2018, also saw the police addressing concerns about the lack of charges against suspects. In both instances, the discussions, including questions and reactions, predominantly centred on Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as well as 1MDB's directors and senior management. The police acknowledged these concerns, with the investigation officer, ACP R. Rajagopal, proposing charges under the Penal Code for these individuals.
Proposed Charges and Witness Strategy

The investigation officer, ACP R. Rajagopal, also conveyed to the Inspector-General of Police that he had briefed then Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas on multiple occasions since July 2018 regarding proposals for charges. While Thomas did direct the police to file charges against some individuals who had left Malaysia to secure arrest warrants, it was also communicated that other 1MDB management personnel still in the country would be designated as witnesses in the case against Datuk Seri Najib Razak. This strategy aimed to build a stronger case against the primary accused by securing testimony from others involved.

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What information did the police provide during the 2018 briefings?

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