Medical and Hospital News  
FLOATING STEEL
Malaysia's Najib questioned over French submarine deal
by Staff Writers
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) Nov 20, 2018

Fallen Malaysian leader Najib Razak is being questioned over the purchase of two French-made submarines, an official told AFP Tuesday, the latest probe to engulf the former prime minister since his government's ousting.

Najib, his wife and key allies have been been hit with a flurry of charges since his surprise election loss earlier this year as public anger crescendoed over a series of graft scandals.

Most of the charges have stemmed from the 1MDB scandal where top officials allegedly looted billions from a government fund to go on a worldwide spending spree.

But the latest probe centres on a controversial $1.2 billion deal signed sixteen years ago when Najib was defence minister to purchase two Scorpene-class submarines.

"Najib is being probed with regards to the purchase of the two Scorpene-class submarines," an official inside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) familiar with the ongoing probe, told AFP.

"On Monday, MACC officials grilled Najib for four hours over the deal," the officer added, requesting anonymity.

The submarine deal has long been mired in controversy.

French submarine maker -- then called DCNS -- is alleged to have paid more than 114 million euros ($134 million) in kickbacks to a shell company linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close Najib associate who brokered the deal.

Razak Baginda's Mongolian mistress Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was said to have demanded a cut for translating during negotiations, was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives near Kuala Lumpur in 2006.

The case sank off the radar after a Malaysian court in 2008 cleared Razak Baginda of abetting the murder, sparking allegations of a huge cover-up to protect Najib.

But Najib's election defeat has reignited interest from Malaysia's anti-graft body.

The MACC official said Razak Baginda may also be hauled up to assist in their investigation of the submarine purchase.

A French investigation since 2010 has already led to four French executives involved in the deal being charged as well as an open criminal case against Razak Baginda.

Both Razak Baginda and Najib's government have denied any wrongdoing as well as the four French executives.

DCNS has since changed its name to Naval Group. It is part owned by the French state and by French multinational giant Thales.

jsm/jta

THALES


Related Links
Naval Warfare in the 21st Century


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


FLOATING STEEL
Argentine submarine wreck found one year after disappearance
Mar Del Plata, Argentina (AFP) Nov 17, 2018
The crushed wreckage of an Argentine submarine has been located one year after it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with 44 crew members, in the country's worst naval disaster in decades. There has been "positive identification of the ARA San Juan," at a depth of more than 800 meters (2,600 feet), the navy tweeted, confirming the vessel had imploded. Experts say raising the submarine would be an enormous undertaking costing a billion dollars or more. Defense Minister Oscar Aguad sai ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

FLOATING STEEL
US Army unfurls miles of fencing along border with Mexico

EU to curb phone costs, set up emergency alert system

Trump says troops to remain at border 'as long as necessary'

Seven detained over east China chemical spill

FLOATING STEEL
China launches twin BeiDou navigation satellites

Finland summons Russian ambassador over GPS blocking claims

Russia blocked GPS data during NATO exercises: Norway

Finnish PM: Jammed GPS signals may be work of Russia

FLOATING STEEL
Paradise regained? Experts call for European approach to US housing

The 'Swiss Army knife of prehistoric tools' found in Asia, suggests homegrown technology

The location of neurons within the cortex affects how they process information

New virtual reconstruction of a Neanderthal thorax suggests another breathing mechanism

FLOATING STEEL
Eel trafficking in the EU, the world's 'biggest wildlife crime'

Thai prosecutor among trio jailed for $1.4m rhino horn haul

4,000-year-old termite mounds found in Brazil are visible from space

Lancelets help scientists uncover the secrets of vertebrate gene regulation

FLOATING STEEL
Researchers a step closer to understanding how deadly bird flu virus takes hold in humans

'Very serious': African swine fever spreads in China

15 emerging technologies that could reduce global catastrophic biological risks

Vaccinating humans to protect mosquitoes from malaria

FLOATING STEEL
Filipinos 'Pooh-Pooh' Xi's Manila visit

Top Chinese university warns students to avoid activism

China's president inaugurates Hong Kong-mainland mega bridge

China's youth embrace street dance amid hip-hop crackdown

FLOATING STEEL
FLOATING STEEL








The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.