Switzerland investigates six for suspected bribery of foreign officials

KUALA LUMPUR: Switzerland is investigating six people on suspicion of bribing foreign officials and other offences, as part of a money laundering investigation into Malaysian state fund 1MDB, the Swiss attorney general’s office said yesterday.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not one of the “public officials under accusation”, the statement said.

The six under investigation are two former officials from 1MDB, two former officials from Abu Dhabi sovereign funds and two officials of Saudi energy group Petrosaudi.

The statement was issued after Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber met with his Malaysian counterpart Tommy Thomas in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the coordination of the investigation into 1MDB.

Lauber and the Swiss delegation were received by Thomas and other officials from the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers (AGC) in a high-level meeting here.

It said their discussions focused on the need to affirm a mutual commitment to the rule of law and the resumption of mutual legal assistance between the two jurisdictions.

According to the Office of Swiss Attorney General (OAG), investigation on the six persons and two banks was opened in response to reports from the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) and the analysis of MROS information carried out by the OAG.

The OAG also said it was investigating the use of financing obtained by 1MDB and its former subsidiary SRC International.

“The financing was earmarked for investment in economic development projects, in particular PetroSaudi, Tanjong/ Genting and Admic projects, as well as in an SRC investment project involving natural resources.

“All or part of the financing obtained is alleged to have been used for other purposes, most particularly for the personal enrichment of the persons involved,” it said.

On Aug 14, 2015, the OAG opened proceedings against two former officials at 1MDB and persons unknown on suspicion of bribery of foreign public officials, misconduct in public office, money laundering and criminal mismanagement.

It said the investigation was extended in April 2016 to include two former officials from the United Arab Emirates who had been in charge of Abu Dhabi sovereign funds.

“They are suspected of committing fraud, criminal mismanagement, misconduct in public office, forgery of documents, bribery of foreign public officials and money laundering,” it said.

In November 2017, further proceedings were opened against two officials of the PetroSaudi Group on suspicion of criminal mismanagement, fraud for commercial gain, bribery of foreign public officials, aggravated money laundering and misconduct in public office.

“One of the two suspects is also suspected of document forgery,” the OAG said.

In May 2016, it said it opened criminal proceedings against the BSI SA bank related to suspected deficiencies in the bank’s internal organisation.

“It is believed that, due to these deficiencies, the bank was unable to prevent the commission of offences currently under investigation.

“In a similar manner, in October 2016 the OAG opened an investigation into Falcon Private Bank SA on suspicion that, due to organisational deficiencies, it may have permitted the commission of the offences currently being investigated in the criminal proceedings relating to 1MDB.”

It said given the international dimension of the case, numerous requests for mutual legal assistance had been sent, most notably to Malaysia, the US, Luxembourg and Singapore.

“Switzerland has itself received requests for mutual legal assistance from a number of foreign states.

“In connection with Malaysia, the OAG has requested mutual legal assistance on two occasions from the law enforcement authorities in Putrajaya,” it said.

The OAG added that it was unable to provide details of the figures currently involved with regard to the assets seized.