SHAH ALAM, SEP 6: The American (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that several possible witnesses to the alleged billion dollar pilfering of 1MDB fund are afraid to assist with investigations in US due to possible retaliation towards them.
The International News Agency, BLOOMBERG NEWS, reported that several individuals in some foreign countries who are currently helping the authorities in their investigation are concern of their safety, while others says its too dangerous for them to cooperate.
Among requests from FBI were to keep the names of its informants a secret from the alleged masterminds of the 1MDB conspiracy.
Individuals who would otherwise be willing to provide information have expressed concern on putting the safety of both themselves and their families at serious risk, said FBI on Tuesday in a court filing in Los Angeles.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) last month requested the judge to postpone a civil lawsuit to confiscate assets worth over USD1 billion in the country, United Kingdom and Switzerland while it conducts a criminal investigation on fund syphoned from 1MDB.
The targeted assets were acquired by Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low; Riza Aziz, a stepson of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak; and Khadem al Qubaisi, the former managing director of Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co.
The trustees holding the assets on behalf of Jho Low, Riza and al Qubaisi and their families however had challenged DoJ’s requests.
According to FBI, Jho Low’s representatives have asked the US authorities to supply the names of witnesses who will be called, sources of evidences and thousands of documents relating to the investigation.
The FBI also cited Malaysian news on the arrest of those involved in the 1MDB embezzlement.
On August 30, Malaysian media reported that the former Malaysian Attorney General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail’s driver was shot, possibly as a warning to the former AG not to cooperate with the U.S., the FBI said.
Gani opened the initial investigation on 1MDB, according to FBI’s filing.
The investigation in US is a part of a global effort to track the USD6 billion from 1MDB being embezzled or involved in money laundering.
Switzerland, Singapore and Luxembourg are among the countries conducting investigations including on roles played by banks and individuals.
Najib who led the 1MDB’s advisory board until last year has denied any wrongdoing and has been declared innocent by the AG.
The DoJ had among others alleged that a $1.29 million diamond and a $3.8 million diamond pendant which Low gave to his then-girlfriend in 2014, actress Miranda Kerr, were bought with money stolen from 1MDB.
Jho Low also allegedly gave a USD3.2 million Picasso painting to Hollywood actor, Leonardo DiCaprio who starred in “The Wolf of Wall Street” film produced by a company led by Riza, using money misappropriated from 1MDB, according to DoJ.
NEWS SOURCE: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-05/1mdb-stolen-funds-witnesses-are-scared-to-talk-fbi-says
FBI: 1MDB’s witnesses are afraid of testifying fearing retaliation
