HONG KONG BANK : Deposit money paid to lose the Pulau Batu Puteh

Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail (pic) should provide details of his bank accounts, plus those held by family members and companies controlled by them, says Parti Keadilan Rakyat strategic director Rafizi Ramli.

Abdul Gani made the offer yesterday evening after the Pandan MP said he would lodge a report with Hong Kong's anti-corruption authorities over graft allegations involving  the attorney general.

“If there were any kickbacks, chances are the proceeds will not go into his personal accounts. So, there's no point for him to disclose details of his bank accounts with an RM5 balance. I don't want to be used as a pawn to clear his name,” Rafizi said today at a press conference.

Rafizi said Abdul Gani’s offer to him to scrutinise all his bank accounts in the country and abroad was commendable but Putrajaya’s top lawyer should also include his family members if he wanted to be transparent.

"I welcome his offer. I think this is the first time that Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail is responding to any allegations. This is a good example from a high-ranking person. I hope all those holding public office will follow his example.”

Abdul Gani's offer comes in the heels of a sworn statement by retired Federal Crime Investigation Department (CID) head Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim.

It had alleged that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been told that Abdul Gani had gone to Hong Kong to deposit money paid to lose the Pulau Batu Puteh sovereignty case.

Rafizi added: “I am not stupid. I will ask him to authorise Bank Negara and other relevant authorities to disclose more information, including monthly bank balances from January, 2005 to December2010.

“Because the Batu Puteh incident happened in 2007, if the alleged transactions took place, they would have been either two years before or after.”

Rafizi said he was compelled to seek the help of the Hong Kong authorities because no action had been taken a month after Mat Zain made his statutory declaration (SD).

He had also cited a paragraph from Mat Zain's SD on the Pulau Batu Puteh issue, which allegedly quoted Umno lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah.

"You will not believe your eyes if you were to see the amount of cash that was transferred into Gani's account in Hong Kong," Shafee allegedly told Mat Zain.

National news agency Bernama carried a report today stating that Abdul Gani had denied the allegations.

"I am prepared to give YB Rafizi the letter of authority, if he wants to check my bank accounts in any country, including Hong Kong, about the millions that have purportedly been deposited into my account as a bribe in the overlapping claim on Pulau Batu Puteh at the International Court of Justice.

"He can come to my office at any time to get the letter," Abdul Gani reportedly said.
-THE INSIDER-