Singapore seizes assets worth RM717mil in 1MDB-related probe

- Reuters

SINGAPORE: Authorities have seized assets worth S$240mil (RM717.45mil) in an investigation of 1MDB-related fund flows for possible money laundering, in a probe which has found "deficiencies" at several major banks here.

"The fund flows being investigated include those connected with Good Star Limited (Seychelles), Aabar Investments PJS Limited (BVI), Aabar Investments PJS Limited (Seychelles), and Tanore Finance Corp. (BVI)," said a joint statement by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Commercial Affairs Department.

The statement follows a lawsuit filed by U.S. prosecutors to seize more than US$1bil (RM4.05bil) in assets they said were tied to money stolen from the Malaysian state development fund.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore said it has completed its inspections of DBS, Standard Chartered and UBS, with preliminary findings showing instances of "control failings" in all three banks and "weaknesses in the processes for accepting clients and monitoring transactions.

"However, the MAS' inspections did not reveal pervasive control weaknesses or staff misconduct within these banks, unlike in the case of BSI Bank," the statement said.

In May, the MAS withdrew the status of Swiss BSI Bank as a merchant bank for serious breaches of anti money laundering requirements.

An onsite inspection of another Swiss bank Falcon PBS in April 2016 found substantial breaches of anti-money laundering regulations. Management oversight and inadequate risk management were found at Raffles Money Change, a moneychanger and remittance agent.

Of the assets seized, about half belonged to Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, and his immediate family, the joint statement said.

The investigations are ongoing and Singapore has requested information from other countries as part of its probe.

"Appropriate actions will be brought against those who have broken Singapore's laws," the statement said. – Reuters