1MDB adviser Goldman Sachs facing FBI, DoJ probe, says WSJ

Multinational investment banking firm Goldman Sachs is under investigation over its role in a series of transactions at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). – Reuters pic, October 14, 2015.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Justice are examining Goldman Sachs Group Inc's role in allegations of corruption and money laundering at state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), The Wall Street Journal reported today.

The US inquiries are at the information-gathering stage, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Goldman Sachs, the paper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Investigators "have yet to determine if the matter will become a focus of any investigations into the 1MDB scandal", WSJ quoted a spokeswoman for the FBI as saying.

Goldman Sachs's Singapore office did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The FBI and DoJ were not available for comment outside US business hours.

In July, Malaysian anti-corruption officials investigating the allegations visited the local office of Goldman Sachs seeking documents relating to 1MDB, Reuters reported earlier, citing sources.

Investigators in Malaysia have been probing 1MDB's management, including allegations that nearly US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was channelled from the fund to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bank accounts.

The attorney-general said yesterday he was right to close an investigation by the country's central bank as there was no evidence the fund's officials had knowingly flouted the law. – Reuters