Seeking answers on ‘blackmail by lover’ claims

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be questioning more people and will also be seeking information from the United States in its investigation into the claims made by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner.

Among other things, Leissner had claimed that he bought a US$10mil house in London for his then lover, former Astro CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan, with stolen 1MDB money.

In the spotlight: Rohana had been called up to have her statement recorded, says Azam.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission was seeking more information from the United States, after Leissner made his explosive claims at a hearing in a US federal court in New York.

“We will be calling up other individuals to assist with the probe, but for now, I cannot share more information on this.

“We need the assistance of the Attorney-General’s Chambers to help obtain more information and testimony from the US,” said Azam at a press conference at the MACC headquarters yesterday.

Leissner had claimed that his old flame, Rohana, had blackmailed him into buying her the US$10mil home in London. He made this claim during the corruption trial of another Goldman Sachs banker, Malaysian Roger Ng.

Ng is accused of conspiring to launder money and violate an anti-bribery law involving 1MDB funds.

Azam confirmed that Rohana had already been called up to have her statement recorded, while assets and bank accounts linked to the purchase of the London mansion have been frozen.

“The amount we are looking to recoup for the country is about US$10mil in terms of money and assets,” said Azam.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said police were not investigating Rohana’s case for now and that they would look at the MACC investigation first before deciding if any action was necessary.

“So far, we have not received information on the matter.

“If there is evidence that requires us to investigate, we will look into it,” he told reporters in George Town.

Azam also said a police investigation was still ongoing into the links between Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, and the 1MDB scandal.

On the Tawfiq issue, Azam said there was a task force set up involving the MACC and the police investigating the matter.

“In this case, the MACC’s task is to repatriate the amount of funding from Singapore.

“On the part of the police, I believe the investigation paper is still (open). When it is completed, it will be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (for further action),” he said.

In March last year, it was reported that Tawfiq was being investigated by police after 1MDB-linked funds were said to have been transferred to his Singapore-based bank account.

The case was probed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Prevention of Financing of Terrorism and Proceeds From Illegal Activities Act 2001.

In November, the MACC revealed that Singapore had repatriated to Malaysia US$15.4mil from accounts that involved Tawfiq’s company.