1MDB banker got ‘bad karma’ warning before scandal exploded, court told

 

Roger Ng and his wife had arranged for feng shui readings with a “Master Pang” for Ng’s boss, Tim Leissner, in 2015 and 2016. (AP pic)

NEW YORK: The wife of the former Goldman Sachs banker on trial over the 1MDB scandal told the jury her feng shui master had warned her husband’s boss of “bad karma” – a prediction that seems to have come true.

Lim Hwee Bin, the wife of ex-Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng, was testifying for Ng on Tuesday as he stands charged with conspiracy in the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Lim told the jurors that she and Ng had arranged for feng shui readings with a “Master Pang” for Ng’s boss, Tim Leissner, in 2015 and 2016.

Leissner, who pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the US against Ng, had testified that the master told him a “female” would “be helpful to him in the future.” He had said that when he met with Lim and Ng to discuss one of the feng shui readings, the three agreed to give authorities a “cover story” for a US$35 million kickback for Ng.

But on Tuesday, Lim told the federal panel in Brooklyn, New York, that the female in question was Leissner’s daughter. She said the meeting was just to discuss the reading.

Feng shui is a common practice among Chinese in Asia and is used to read favourable and unfavorable signs and energy flows. Lim told the jury she and her husband consulted the master annually ahead of the Lunar New Year and whenever they were looking for a new home or office.

“Don’t cause bad karma,” Lim said Master Pang warned Leissner. “Whatever bad is coming is coming out of your mouth.”

Lim had testified Monday that she invested her parents’ money in businesses controlled by the then-wife of Leissner.

But under questioning Tuesday from a federal prosecutor, Lim said she had no records showing that a payment to her offshore account was for an investment she’d made earlier with Judy Chan Leissner in China.

When assistant US attorney Alixandra Smith asked why not, Lim testified she no longer had the single letter she received from Chan Leissner acknowledging receipt of the funds.

“When you invest in China, there’s no point for documents,” Lim said. “Even if I have a document, where do I go to enforce it?”

Pressed further by Smith about how the Lim family’s funds were transferred to Chan Leissner, Lim said, “Judy can explain.” Lim said she and her brother, who are both lawyers, didn’t ask questions about the investment and that Chan Leissner never told her exactly how much it was worth. - FMT