Tawfiq denies receiving bribe, says he doesn’t know Leissner and Ng

 

Tawfiq Ayman says he is shocked over the allegation made by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner against him. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, has denied an allegation by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner that he received “bribes” to facilitate the transfer of US$1 billion out from Malaysia.

Tawfiq said he was shocked by Leissner’s claim against him, adding that he did not know the former Goldman executive and Roger Ng, Goldman’s former head of investment banking in Malaysia.

“I am shocked with the statements made against me by Tim Leissner, which had been reported in the media,” he said in a statement.

“I do not know Tim Leissner or Roger Ng and neither have I met, nor have ever communicated with either of them.

“I wish to categorically state that throughout my entire life, I have never received any bribes from anyone.

“In view of the ongoing proceedings in New York, I have been advised not to make any further comments as it may amount to sub judice.

“We will be seeking legal advice on the next course of action to be taken on the statements made against me.”

Testifying in Ng’s 1MDB corruption trial in the US district court in New York, Leissner said “the husband of the then governor at Bank Negara had received a bribe to make that happen”, when asked on 1MDB’s US$1 billion transfer to PetroSaudi International over their joint venture project.

“So, overnight, that money was transferred, which was unprecedented at that time. No approval was obtained that quickly from Bank Negara,” he said.

Last November, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission revealed that at least RM65 million in 1MDB-linked funds recovered from Singapore was held by a company belonging to Tawfiq.

Tawfiq and his two sons had admitted to knowing about the money in statutory declarations signed in March last year. The money was in the accounts of Cutting Edge Industries in Singapore, and they admitted to being the beneficial owners of the accounts.

Bukit Aman had recorded Tawfiq’s statement in December.

Ng is standing trial on two charges of conspiring to violate US anti-bribery laws with Leissner and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.  - FMT