KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 6): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)'s investigations on two lawyers and their firms over alleged bribery and money laundering in the Malaysian government's settlements with Goldman Sachs and AmBank over 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) is still ongoing.  

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mahadi Abdul Jumaat said this in court on Wednesday during a brief mention regarding the graft busters' withdrawal of its legal action compelling lawyers Rosli Dahlan, Chetan Jethwani and their respective firms to produce documents to assist in investigations.

"As stated in the letter to court on Nov 29, where we informed the court we do not intend to continue with this application. We are present today to officially inform the court of this, and for the application to be struck off.

"Although the application is withdrawn, the investigations are still ongoing. The investigations are still ongoing but at this stage we don't require the documents from the respondents," Mahadi said during proceedings before two separate High Court judges Muniandy Kannyappan and Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin.

Mahadi also added that the prosecution does not have to reveal at what stage the investigation is at the moment.

Both High Courts stuck out the anti-graft body's application on Wednesday.

During proceedings before Muhammad Jamil who presided over Chetan and his firm Messrs Chethan Jethwani, the lawyer wanted it on record that the withdrawal means that MACC is not taking any privileged documents from his firm, which represented Goldman Sachs in the August 2021 agreement.

Subsequently, the investment bank also withdrew its application to intervene in the matter. Lawyer Krishna Dallumah said that the US-based bank still asserts its rights to the privileged documents.

Teh See Khoon appeared for Chetan and his firm on Monday. Meanwhile, Shaarvin Raaj Selva Kumar also appeared for Goldman.

During proceedings before Muniandy who presided over Rosli and Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership's (RDS) case, the High Court judge struck out the application and ordered for the cause papers including affidavits to not be accessible by third parties.  

The court also struck out the legal action against Rosli.

RDS who was represented by M Puravalen had asked for one of MACC's affidavits in support of the application to be struck out as there were averments made against the 17-partner firm which could be damaging.

Rosli had earlier applied for the application against him to be struck out, saying that it was wrong to single him out when the documents sought were in the firm's possession.

Harvinderjit Singh, appearing for Rosli, argued that the legal action against his client ought to be struck out as there was no reason for him to be named in the first place.

In a statement, Rosli again repeated that the application was done to "smear his reputation".

"From the beginning of this episode, I have stated that the MACC’s actions against my firm and I are scandalous, frivolous, vexatious, libelous and fundamentally flawed. It is obvious that the MACC has decided to discontinue a proceeding that they had initiated unwittingly to their own detriment and to the prejudice of the country.

"All these shenanigans against my firm and I must stop. There is still much to be done to recover the losses from the 1MDB scandal," he said.

Also read :
MACC had to withdraw vexatious and fundamentally flawed application, says lawyer Rosli Dahlan
MACC withdraws application for 1MDB documents from law firm
Goldman Sachs applies to intervene in MACC’s motion against law firm Chethan Jethwani to obtain 1MDB-related docs
Lawyer’s application to strike out MACC’s demand of 1MDB documents fixed for Jan 17, 2024
MACC takes two law firms to court over 1MDB settlement documents