Amanah deputy youth chief says many have confused criminal action with civil action in the matter of the US Department of Justice lawsuits.
PETALING JAYA: Amanah’s deputy youth chief has stressed that the US Department of Justice (DoJ) lawsuits seeking to seize 1Malaysia Development Berhad-related assets worth USD1 billion (RM4 billion) constitutes a criminal and not civil case.Faiz Fadzil, in a statement today, claimed that many had confused civil action with criminal action in the matter of the DoJ lawsuit.
“Ministers and Umno leaders, including Information Chief Annuar Musa and Law Minister Azalina Othman Said, used the word ‘civil’ in wanting to imply that the DoJ’s action is not serious as it is not a criminal case,” Faiz said.
Faiz however said the DoJ’s action comes under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative programme, which aims to recover all foreign national assets stolen through criminal activities.
“Even though the sections mentioned are under civil forfeiture, the actions taken by the DoJ come under the American criminal law,” Faiz said.
The lawyer explained that civil forfeiture actions were generally taken preceding actions under criminal law provisions.
Azalina yesterday said the Opposition did not understand the nature of the actions taken by the DoJ.
Annuar Musa also chimed in, saying the DoJ lawsuits were civil suits that needed to go through certain processes.
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