Singapore's central bank on Wednesday said it had issued a lifetime prohibition order against former Goldman Sachs' banker Tim Leissner.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's central bank on Wednesday said it had issued a lifetime prohibition order against former Goldman Sachs' banker Tim Leissner after he admitted to charges related to an investigation into scandal-plagued Malaysian state fund 1MDB.
The ban is an upgrade of the Monetary Authority of Singapore's 10-year prohibition order against Leissner issued last year.
The order, among other things, prevents him from performing any regulated activity under the Securities and Futures Act (SFA).
Goldman Sachs has been under scrutiny for its role in helping raise funds through bond offerings for 1Malaysia Development Bhd, which is the subject of investigations in at least six countries.
"After careful consideration of Mr Leissner's admission to participation in the conspiracy, as well as US DOJ's criminal actions against him, MAS has decided to vary the PO against him," the MAS said in a statement.
Goldman Sachs has consistently denied wrongdoing. - Reuters
Below is the statement issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore:
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced today that it has increased the ban against Mr Tim Leissner to a lifetime Prohibition Order (PO). This follows Mr Leissner’s admission to criminal charges brought against him by the United States Department of Justice (US DOJ).
On 13 March 2017, MAS had issued a 10-year PO against Mr Leissner, a former director of Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte., to prohibit him from (i) performing any regulated activity under the Securities and Futures Act (SFA), and (ii) taking part, directly or indirectly in the management of any capital markets services firm in Singapore.
This PO was imposed after Mr Leissner was found to have issued an unauthorised reference letter on behalf of Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. to a financial institution based in Luxembourg where he had made false statements without the firm’s knowledge.
On 1 November 2018, the US DOJ charged Mr Leissner for conspiracy to (i) commit money laundering, and (ii) violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practice Act.
Mr Leissner has pleaded guilty to these charges, and admitted to participating in a conspiracy to (i) obtain and retain business from 1MDB for Goldman Sachs through the promise and payment of bribes and kickbacks to government officials in Abu Dhabi and Malaysia, and by embezzling funds from 1MDB for himself and others, and (ii) launder these bribes, kickbacks and funds through financial systems in the US and elsewhere.
The US DOJ’s charges and Mr Leissner’s guilty plea have provided further evidence of Mr Leissner’s involvement in funds flows related to 1MDB, which were previously not available to MAS.
Since the commencement of investigations into 1MDB-related funds flows in 2015, MAS has been investigating the conduct and involvement of the relevant individuals, including Mr Leissner.
The 10-year PO issued against Mr Leissner in March 2017 was based on the limited information available to MAS at that time.
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