PetroSaudi whistleblower meets Dr M

Swiss national Xavier Justo who leaked PetroSaudi's trove of emails has met Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"What a great privilege and what an incredible moment," said Justo in a Facebook post.

Justo shared a photograph of him with Mahathir on the social media site.

The PetroSaudi phase, according to the US Department of Justice, was the first of four phases in which 1MDB's funds were allegedly siphoned.

In this phase, at least US$1.03 billion intended for a joint-venture between 1MDB and PetroSaudi was diverted to Good Star Limited owned by businessperson Low Taek Jho between 2009 to 2011.

Sarawak Report was the first to expose this transaction based on the leaked information from Justo, which had at that time was met with scepticism.

Xavier was pursued by PetroSaudi officials in Thailand and he was subsequently arrested and jailed for three years in 2015 for blackmailing his former employer.

However, Justo was freed in late 2016 on a royal amnesty.

The 1MDB scandal is now subject to an international investigation.

Justo's meeting coincided with Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown's arrival in Malaysia on Friday.

The DOJ claimed billions of ringgit in 1MDB funds ended up in Najib's personal bank account.

Najib claimed the money was a donation from a Saudi patron and had denied wrongdoing or taking public funds for personal gain.

Local investigation into the matter had been stalled.

However, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter after he defeated BN under Najib's leadership in the May 9 general election, ending the coalition's 61 years in power. -Mkini