KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — The police have to follow procedure in its investigation into the management of debt-riddled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the national police chief said today amid increasing public scrutiny of the state investment firm.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the procedures for commercial crimes such as 1MDB’s case requires a different approach from those conducted for normal criminal cases and requires the officers to investigate first before making any arrests.

“In the case of commercial crime, it is the other way around. We don’t arrest first and then investigate.

“Here, we investigate first, and if there is any wrongdoing then only we arrest and the task force will take action,” Khalid told reporters here.

The ongoing probe is being conducted by a special joint task force between the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.

“We are scrutinising the areas that we need to focus on. I don’t want to divulge the details on the investigation as it might jeopardise the investigation,” he said and declined further comment.

The task force is led by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

1MDB, incorporated in 2009 after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak moved to turn state investment fund Terengganu Investment Authority into a federal agency, is currently under investigation by the Auditor-General and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.

The investment fund also has come under fire from various quarters including former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has been launching vitriolic attacks at Najib blaming him for the current situation.