Have you acted on Leissner’s claims, DAP MP asks govt

 

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has asked the government to give a status report on claims made in a New York court by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner.

PETALING JAYA: A DAP MP has asked the government whether it has investigated the claims made by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner during Roger Ng’s 1MDB trial in the US.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the agencies involved should have launched investigations following the court testimony and a status update should be given.

“Why has there not been any arrests despite the authorities being aware of Leissner’s testimony? How much longer do the people have to wait?” he asked in a statement today.

Leissner is the star witness in the corruption trial of Ng, the former Goldman head of investment banking in Malaysia.

Prosecutors say the two men helped divert billions from 1MDB to be used as bribes for politicians and others.

Ng has denied any wrongdoing.

Lim said Leissner had testified that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) approved an “overnight” foreign exchange transfer of US$1 billion from 1MDB to PetroSaudi International after the husband of a former BNM governor had allegedly received a bribe to “make it happen”.

Leissner described it as “unprecedented”.

Furthermore, Lim said, Leissner had also alleged that a former CEO of a public-listed company in Malaysia, with whom he had a relationship, had threatened to expose his involvement in the 1MDB scandal and he had bought her a US$10 million home in London.

“The looting of 1MDB has been described as one of the biggest financial scandals in history,” Lim said.

“I would like to ask the prime minister, the attorney-general, the inspector-general of police, Bank Negara, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) if any investigation has been carried out on Leissner’s two allegations.”

In a statement today, BNM said all investments abroad by resident entities were subject to the requirements under the Exchange Control Act 1953 that was in force prior to 2013.

“These requirements and criteria governing such investments are transparent and published on BNM’s website,” the central bank said in a statement in response to Leissner’s testimony.

BNM said that all submissions made by 1MDB were subject to the same approval criteria and internal governance process that applied to any submission by other entities to the central bank. - FMT