MACC working with FBI on 1MDB probe

TEAM: Focus is on businessman who allegedly cheated strategic development company

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that it is working with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to probe a businessman suspected of embezzling 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.

“Regarding the US Department of Justice’s report on 1MDB, the MACC confirms that it is cooperating with the FBI. Both parties have worked together before.

“The cooperation mentioned is focused on the possibility of misappropriation and money laundering by a businessman said to have cheated 1MDB,” the MACC said in a statement.

It, however, did not name the businessman.

The US Department of Justice had on Wednesday announced it had filed civil forfeiture complaints seeking to seize US$1 billion (RM4.02 billion) worth of assets allegedly obtained using funds siphoned from 1MDB.

The department named businessman Riza Aziz, owner of Good Star Limited Low Taek Jho (or Jho Low) and a former official at a government fund in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed Badawy al-Husseiny, in a civil forfeiture suit.

US prosecutors also accused several high-profile individuals of conspiring to launder US$3.5 billion from 1MDB.