PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will likely be questioning extra folks and also will be in search of data from the United States in its investigation into the claims made by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner.
Among different issues, Leissner had claimed that he purchased a US$10mil home in London for his then lover, former Astro CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan, with stolen 1MDB cash.
In the highlight: Rohana had been referred to as as much as have her assertion recorded, says Azam.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki mentioned the fee was in search of extra data from the United States, after Leissner made his explosive claims at a listening to in a US federal courtroom in New York.
“We will be calling up other individuals to assist with the probe, but for now, I cannot share more information on this.
“We need the assistance of the Attorney-General’s Chambers to help obtain more information and testimony from the US,” mentioned Azam at a press convention on the MACC headquarters yesterday.
Leissner had claimed that his outdated flame, Rohana, had blackmailed him into shopping for her the US$10mil house in London. He made this declare throughout the corruption trial of one other Goldman Sachs banker, Malaysian Roger Ng.
Ng is accused of conspiring to launder cash and violate an anti-bribery regulation involving 1MDB funds.
Azam confirmed that Rohana had already been referred to as as much as have her assertion recorded, whereas belongings and financial institution accounts linked to the acquisition of the London mansion have been frozen.
“The amount we are looking to recoup for the country is about US$10mil in terms of money and assets,” mentioned Azam.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan mentioned police weren’t investigating Rohana’s case for now and that they might have a look at the MACC investigation first earlier than deciding if any motion was essential.
“So far, we have not received information on the matter.
“If there is evidence that requires us to investigate, we will look into it,” he advised reporters in George Town.
Azam additionally mentioned a police investigation was nonetheless ongoing into the hyperlinks between Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, and the 1MDB scandal.
On the Tawfiq difficulty, Azam mentioned there was a job power arrange involving the MACC and the police investigating the matter.
“In this case, the MACC’s task is to repatriate the amount of funding from Singapore.
“On the part of the police, I believe the investigation paper is still (open). When it is completed, it will be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (for further action),” he mentioned.
In March final yr, it was reported that Tawfiq was being investigated by police after 1MDB-linked funds had been mentioned to have been transferred to his Singapore-based checking account.
The case was probed below Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Prevention of Financing of Terrorism and Proceeds From Illegal Activities Act 2001.
In November, the MACC revealed that Singapore had repatriated to Malaysia US$15.4mil from accounts that concerned Tawfiq’s firm.
