KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 ― Malaysia’s anti-graft body has reportedly informed the Interpol of its arrest warrants for three individuals wanted for investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief (MACC) commissioner Latheefa Koya made the announcement to the media this morning, as reported by Malaysiakini.
The trio ― Low Taek Jho, Tarek Obaid, and Patrick Mahoney ― were charged in absentia yesterday for a US$69 million (RM285.7 million) 1MDB money laundering case.
“This is part of our ongoing recovery-cum-investigation on 1MDB and SRC International,” she was quoted as saying.
“This is part of that process where we are charging those people who may have access to details of those monies.”
The anti-graft agency is expected to release more details on the charges soon.
According to financial paper The Edge, the trio were charged for criminal conspiracy involving the commission of an offence by Datuk Seri Najib Razak for using his position as then prime minister, finance minister and 1MDB advisory board chairman to seek personal gratification.
The offence, which accused Najib of seeking RM60.63 million in kickbacks, purportedly took place on September 26, 2009 at a special meeting with the 1MDB board of directors.
Najib was said to have instructed the 1MDB board of directors to pass a resolution at the meeting authorising 1MDB to participate in a joint venture with PetroSaudi International Ltd, according to the charge sheet.
The alleged meeting was held at The Royale Bintang Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
There, Najib was said to have directed 1MDB to invest in the capital of 1MDB PetroSaudi Ltd by subscribing for one billion ordinary shares in 1MDB PetroSaudi at US$1 each for a total consideration of US$1 billion (or equivalent in ringgit).
Then on May 16, 2011, Najib was said to have prompted the board of directors to pass another resolution authorising an additional RM1 billion (or equivalent in US dollar) investment under the Murabaha financing agreement dated March 31, 2010, with 1MDB PetroSaudi.
The offence was said to have been committed at 1MDB’s office at Menara IMC Jalan Sultan Ismail here.
Obaid, Mahony and Jho Low were said to have engaged in the alleged criminal conspiracy between February 24, 2011 and June 14, 2011, the paper reported.
The MACC also alleged the trio had committed an offence punishable under sections 23(1), 24(1) and 28(1)© of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, The Edge added.
Obaid and Mahony faced a separate charge for engaging in money laundering on September 30, 2009 at Switzerland-based J.P. Morgan (Suisse) SA for a sum of US$300 million (RM1.24 billion).
The money was said to be proceeds of an unlawful activity from 1MDB, the paper said citing the charge sheet.
The money was deposited into 1MDB PetroSaudi’s bank account bearing the number 7619400.
