Samer Allawi - Kuala Lumpur
The Anti-Corruption Commission of Malaysia has published a recording of two phone calls between former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razzaq and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed about the money-laundering process in the United States for the "One Malaysia Development Fund" sovereign fund known as "OneMDB".
The two calls were made on July 22, 2016, through which Abd al-Razzaq asked bin Zayed to transfer funds in favor of Reza Aziz, son of the first wife and resident of New York, to protect him from prosecution in the United States on charges of money laundering related to the Sovereign Fund and the Hollywood Film Production Company.
The recording of the second call shows that Bin Zayed agreed to fund my photos for the films produced by Reza Aziz, through direct transfers from him or through the Al-Abrar Company headed by Mansour bin Zayed, brother of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Al-Abrar’s name appeared more than once in the Malaysian investigations into the case of the sovereign fund, in addition to Emirati and Saudi companies.
The records show Bin Zayed and Abdul Razzaq warned against talking in detail on the phone, just as the latter did not deny the phone conversation, but he warned that disclosing it would harm diplomatic relations and national interests, and asked about the legality of spying on a prime minister while he was in power and the timing of disclosure.
The following is the text of the first call:
Bin Zayed: Mr. Prime Minister, how are you?
Najib : I am fine and very happy to speak with your highness. How are you?
Bin Zayed: Everyone is fine with me, and how is your family?
Najib: The family is fine here, of course we are facing a black cloud due to the announcement yesterday by the US Department of Justice, and therefore your Highness is very important to get out of this dilemma associated with the One Malaysia Development Company (NDPD) and (IMPEC) as soon as possible, because This is annoying for both of our countries, as it is offensive to Malaysia, as well as to the United Arab Emirates and personalities close to you, and I hope that we find a solution as soon as possible, but I find it difficult to talk to you on the phone so can we meet as soon as possible until we solve the problem.
Bin Zayed: Mr. Prime Minister, this is possible on my part, but I have a link with Sheikh Khalifa, as he is in a period of treatment and testing, and I have to go see him the day after tomorrow. What do you think that we will meet after that?
Naguib: Your Highness, when is it possible on your part?
Bin Zayed: I will return here after seven or eight days.
Naguib: Seven or eight days. Aam
bin Zayed: If you consider that this will be late, I can arrange others. You can meet Khaldoun the head of the righteous company and talk to him, and I trust him well, and he can act on my behalf.
Naguib: Yes ... where will your Highness be on Saturday?
Bin Zayed: On Sunday I will be visiting Sheikh Khalifa.
Najeeb: When do you leave Sunday?
Bin Zayed: Not sure.
Najib: Not sure?
Bin Zayed: Not in the morning.
Najib: Not in the morning? Will it be possible to meet you on Sunday morning?
Bin Zayed : I can arrange that.
Najib: I can travel on Saturday evening and meet you on Sunday morning, and we will discuss with your Highness before the start of your journey, because it is really urgent, and if we do not solve the problem, it may develop.
Bin Zayed: Can I call you two hours from now?
Najib: You can talk to me about 11:30 p.m. our time, which is approximately two and a half hours from now. Is this possible?
Bin Zayed: Certainly, I will definitely call you.
Naguib: Thank you
This is the text of the second registration :
Bin Zayed: Mr. Prime Minister, I apologize for the delay in you.
Naguib: Haha, welcome to His Highness the Sheikh.
Bin Zayed: Mr. Prime Minister, I consulted with my advisors here. For me, there is no problem on Saturday, but the time is very short, and the time will be contradictory to you and me, and therefore I want to find another solution, Mr. Prime Minister, Khaldoun is empowered with full powers from me, and I am really serious In search of a solution to this problem.
Najib: Good.
Bin Zayed: Therefore, I suggest that someone meet him, you can be you or someone you authorize, I do not want to delay the issue any more, and I assure you that we are serious about looking for a solution for the benefit of both of us.
Naguib: Yes, it is a common interest, meaning that you see that I do not have to travel, and that others know about it.
Bin Zayed: Yes, there are those who follow the matter ...
Naguib: Did you say you could come?
Bin Zayed: I said that Khaldun will come to you ... Mr. Prime Minister, and a minister may come with Khaldoun.
Najib: When can Khaldoun come here?
Bin Zayed: I will call him now, he is in California, and I can ask him to move immediately from there.
Naguib: I have a personal request from your Highness, which is related to my son's visa and also related to his movie. An agreement can be signed with Sheikh Mansour, we want to sign an agreement with Sheikh Mansour when he is present according to his agenda, and this shows that it is legal, and that it is a financing deal and not washing Money, because he is currently under great pressure in America, and I am worried about him if they make a scapegoat for him, and I will be grateful if we make a deal that will be a solution and I will be grateful if this agreement can be signed quickly, so that the person whom Sheikh Mansour delegates can start paying the amount, until it appears The transaction is considered legitimate, and when he receives the amount, the source of the funds will appear, because he does not know where it came from, I do not want him to be a victim. When he does not know the source of the funds, he will not believe that it is one of the righteouss headed by Sheikh Mansour, and I remember His Highness the Sheikh that you mentioned him and asked to meet him when We were in Abu Dhabi.
Bin Zayed: We will do what we can.
Najib: I want to complete the contract quickly, His Highness, and this is a special request from me as soon as possible. If the contract is signed on Monday or Tuesday, can you suggest how this can be done?
Bin Zayed: (The registration is not clear) Yes, we are working on the matter, Mr. Prime Minister.
Naguib: All he does is produce movies, and Sheikh Mansour offered him a loan from Al-Abrar company ...
Bin Zayed: Don't worry, Mr. Prime Minister.