Malaysian authorities have imposed fines of around $100 million on 80 entities, intensifying their pursuit of people allegedly linked to the massive 1MDB corruption scandal, the anti-graft chief said Monday.
The fines are linked to a wide-ranging probe into billions of dollars that were looted from state investment fund 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, and spent on everything from yachts to expensive artwork, in a fraud allegedly involving the former prime minister.
Claims that Najib Razak and his cronies pilfered massive sums from 1MDB contributed to the defeat of his long-ruling coalition in the election last year.
Latheefa Koya, chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, said the agency hoped to recover roughly 420 million ringgit ($100 million) from 80 individuals, companies and political parties -- including Nazir Razak, the former premier's younger brother.
Nazir was the chairman of CIMB Group Holdings, Malaysia's second-largest bank and Southeast Asia's fifth-largest lender. He quit the bank in December 2018.
The people and entities targeted are accused of receiving money pilfered from 1MDB via an account linked to Najib, Latheefa told reporters.
Former PM Najib was arrested last year after he lost power, and hit with dozens of charges related to the 1MDB scandal. He is currently facing two trials.
Latheefa said those targeted in the expanded probe have two weeks to pay the fines or face possible prosecution.
The US Department of Justice, which is seizing assets in America allegedly bought with looted 1MDB money, believes that $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Noida Man Fined Rs 28,500 For Making Reels On Moving Car's Roof Singapore Man Fined Rs 3 Lakh For Posing As Malaysian Royal Bodyguard To Attend K-Pop Concert "It's Ridiculous": Woman Paid Rs 11 Lakh Penalty Over New 5-Minute Parking Rule Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP CSAB 2024 Supernumerary Round Counselling Registration Begins Today Telangana Women's Commission Orders Probe Into KTR's Remarks What Is The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid's Origin? Scientists Have An Answer Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.