KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will still be called and investigated for defamatory remarks during Bersih rally at Dataran Merdeka 4 here, last weekend. Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the former prime minister would be investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for his alleged there Umno division head of accepting bribes. However, he said Dr Mahathir has not yet been informed of the inquiry.
“I will inform him (Mahathir) to take his evidence in the near future. We will sign his conversation and to investigate because we have received the police report,” he told reporters after officiating the International Conference and Exhibition of Southeast Asia Security Related Technology (IFSEC) in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) here on Thursday.
He said that although Dr Mahathir will be called for an investigation but his status as a statesman would be respected by conducting interrogations according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) investigation. Yesterday, Khalid said police would summon Dr Mahathir to be evidence of the statements made in the Bersih 4.
“Meanwhile, in another development, the police had applied for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) from the Thai authorities to interview the former executive PetroSaudi International, Xavier Andre Justo. The police have been sent to their MLA (the Thai authorities) but there has been no response yet,” said Khalid.
He said the investigation against Justo continues to complete its investigation involving The Edge Media Group chairman, Datuk Tong Kooi Ong and his publisher, Ho Kay Tat following the publication of articles related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Swiss citizen is currently serving a three year prison sentence after being convicted in Bangkok blackmail his former employer.
