The Department of Justice of the United States of America has taken action to seize the assets of named individuals suspected of stealing money belonging to 1MDB, and the Government of Malaysia.
Altogether 17 assets are listed. They include properties, investments, aircrafts, yachts, companies, paintings and movie films. They are worth USD 1 billion. The 136 page document gives in detail the way the money was siphoned through fraudulent investments in bogus companies, passing through various banks and individuals and ending in the account of MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1.
Who is Malaysian Official 1 mentioned 36 times in the report. He is described as “a high-ranking official in the Malaysian Government who also held a position of authority with 1MDB. During all times relevant to the complaint, Malaysian Official 1 was a “public official” as that term is used in 18 USC – 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv) and a “public servant” as the term as used in Section 21 of the Malaysian Penal Code.”
In para 39 of the report “Malaysian Official 1 assumed a position of authority with 1MDB. Malaysian Official 1 had the authority to approve all appointment to, and removals from, 1MDB’s Board of Directors and 1MDB’s Senior Management Team. In addition, any financial commitment by 1MDB, including investments, that are likely to affect a guarantee given by the Government of Malaysia for the benefit of 1MDB or any policy of the Malaysian Government, required the approval of Malaysian Official1.”
Para 102 of the report states “that Malaysian Official 1 is the ultimate beneficiary of AMPRIVATE BANKING – MR Account is the same account that later received certain payments totalling approximately $681 million USD in March 2013. As set forth in Paragraph 263 below, the Attorney General of Malaysia has publicly stated that the account into which these $681 million payments were made belonged to Dato Sri Najib, the Prime Minister of Malaysia. It cannot be that the accounts and the sum of USD 681 belong to two different people.
Para 28 states “Malaysian Official 1 is a high-ranking official in the Malaysian Government who also held a position of authority with 1MDB.”
Para 29 “Riza Shahriz bin Abdul Aziz (“Aziz”), a Malaysian national, is a relative of Malaysian Official 1 and a friend of LOW. He co-founded Red Granite Pictures, a Hollywood movie production and distribution studio, in 2010.”
In Para 39 Malaysian Official 1 assumed a position of authority with 1MDB etc etc.
I don’t know why the US officials writing the report are being coy about giving the real name of Malaysian Official 1 when they are happy to write down the names of the other culprits; namely Riza Aziz, Jho Low and Khadim Abdullah. If it is because this is not at the stage of making criminal charges, then no names should be named.
Now Najib and his goons are saying that Najib is not involved as his name is not mentioned. Najib himself is saying, “Allow legal process to take its course for those named by US DOJ.” Clearly he did not consider the legal process would include investigation regarding his role in stealing the money belonging to 1MDB.
Yet the references to Malaysian Official 1 coincide with what is known and admitted by Najib were associated with him. This includes the reference to the $681 million in the Account of Malaysian Official 1, the reference to Malaysian Official 1 authority over the Government and 1MDB which coincides with Najib’s position as Minister of Finance and Adviser to the Board of 1MDB. And so it goes on with the other 30 or so descriptions of the authority and role of Malaysian Official 1 coinciding with those of Najib as Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of Malaysia and Adviser to the Board of 1MDB.
Despite detailed descriptions in the DOJ report on how 1MDB money had been shunted through various companies, including Good Star, a company belonging to Jho Low and banks in a number of countries and finally appearing in the account of Malaysian Official 1 in Ambank, the Attorney General insists that there is no proof that money from 1MDB was misused.
Under 11 on Para 14 of the DOJ report “The Good Star Phase: More than $1 billion is misappropriated from 1MDB.”
In Para 40, the manner through which $1 billion of 1MDB money was invested in Petro Saudi is detailed.
Para 41 explained that Jho Low and his associates caused $700 million of the 1 billion meant to be invested in Petro Saudi, to be sent to an account at RBS Coutts Bank in Zurich held in the name of Good Star Ltd, a company owned by Jho Low.
Para 42 states that “between May and Oct 2011, approximately $330 million in additional funds were wired at the direction of 1MDB official to the Good Star account purportedly in connection with a financing agreements between 1MDB and 1MDB – Petro Saudi JV.
Perhaps the Malaysian A.G. can explain why 1MDB investments of $1 billion should go into the account of Good Star in RBS Coutts Bank in Zurich. Or is he going to deny that this happened? In that case he should show proofs that it did not happen. Merely saying it is not true is not enough. The A.G.’s words have no credibility at all. His claims that there is no evidence of Najib’s wrongdoing in all the reports submitted to him is about as credible as a crocodile shedding tears. AG’s claim that Najib gave back RM 2.3 billion of the RM 2.6 billion given by the dead King of Saudi Arabia is just as incredible. No transfer documents and no receipts have been exhibited.
Stealing money is a crime. Merely seizing the stolen money does not nullify the crime. The only logical sequence to the seizures of stolen money is the criminal charge against the thieves. How is the DOJ of the USA going to charge the Malaysian Official 1 without naming him?
Malaysians’ want to regain their good name. They don’t want to be led by a leader suspected of kleptocracy of stealing billions of Government money. They cannot do anything themselves because Malaysia Official 1 controls the Attorney General and the police – the enforcement agencies. They cannot remove him through a vote of non-confidence as he controls a majority of the Members of Parliament through illegal measures.
Like it or not they have to rely on actions by foreign countries. If the US really believes in eradicating corruption and money laundering which involves their country, they should not be shy about naming names and letting due process to take place.
When the thief is in charge of the police and the prosecuting agency, only foreign intervention can bring about justice.
Cry my beloved country. - http://chedet.cc/
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