1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal (1MDB scandal) was a large corruption, bribery and money laundering scandal which began in 2009 in Malaysia but became global in scope and was exposed in 2015. It was as described as "one of the world's greatest financial scandals"^[1][2] and declared by the United States Department of Justice as the "largest kleptocracy case to date" in 2016.^[3]

In 2015, Malaysia's then-Prime Minister Najib Razak was accused of channelling over RM 2.67 billion (approximately US$700 million) into his personal bank accounts from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a government-run strategic development company masterminded by Low Taek Jho (commonly referred to as Jho Low).^[4] Dismissal of charges triggered widespread outrage among Malaysians,^[5] with many calling for Najib Razak's resignation. Among Najib's critics was politician Mahathir Mohamad,^[6] who later defeated Najib in the 2018 general election and returned to power.

Anwar Ibrahim, a political leader in opposition to Najib, openly questioned 1MDB's credentials as early as 2010. He had told Parliament that, according to records held by the Companies Commission, the company "has no business address and no appointed auditor."^[7] According to its publicly filed accounts, 1MDB had nearly RM 42 billion (US$11.73 billion) in debt by 2015.^[8] Some of this debt resulted from a $3 billion state-guaranteed 2013 bond issue led by the American investment bank Goldman Sachs, which had been reported to have received fees of up to $300 million for the deal, although the bank disputes this figure.^[9] Nevertheless, Goldman Sachs was charged in a Foreign Bribery Case and agreed to pay over $2.9 billion in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).^[10] The Malaysian Conference of Rulers called for prompt investigation of the scandal, saying that it was causing a crisis of confidence in Malaysia.^[11][12]

After the 2018 election, the newly elected prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, reopened investigations into the 1MDB scandal.^[13] Malaysian Immigration Department barred Najib ^[14] and 11 others^[15] from leaving the country, while the police seized more than 500 handbags and 12,000 pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth US$270 million from property linked to Najib.^[16] Najib was charged with criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power, while Jho Low was charged with money laundering. The U.S. Department of Justice pursued its own investigation into 1MDB, alleging that more than US$4.5 billion was diverted from 1MDB by Jho Low and other conspirators including officials from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.^[17] Najib was subsequently found guilty of seven charges connected to SRC International, a dummy corporation associated with 1MDB, and was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment.^[18]

In September 2020, the alleged amount stolen from 1MDB was estimated to be US$4.5 billion and a Malaysian government report listed 1MBD's outstanding debts to be at US$7.8 billion.^[19] The government has assumed 1MDB's debts, which includes 30-year bonds due in 2039.^[20]

As of 5 August 2021, in an ongoing effort to fight global kleptocracy, the U.S. Department of Justice recovered and returned a total of US$1.2 billion of 1MDB funds misappropriated within U.S. jurisdiction to the people of Malaysia,^[21] joining a list of several countries which have initiated recovery or that have already repatriated smaller recovered amounts.^[22]

Email and newspaper exposés[]

It was reported by news portal Sarawak Report and British newspaper The Sunday Times, using leaked email correspondences, that Penang-based financier Jho Low, who has ties with Najib Razak's step son, siphoned out US$700 million from a joint venture deal between 1MDB and PetroSaudi International through Good Star Ltd.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} Although Low never received an official position in 1MDB, he is described as someone who was regularly consulted about 1MDB without having any decision-making authority.^[28] An email revealed that Low had the loan approval from Najib for $1 billion without getting any approval from Bank Negara.^[29][30] Sarawak Report showed, using minutes of a meeting at 1MDB, that CEO Arul Kanda gave out false bank statements pertaining to its subsidiary's accounts at the Singapore branch of BSI Bank.^[31][32] Arul Kanda denied the allegation that he gave false bank statements to Bank Negara.^[33]

It was claimed through a report by The Wall Street Journal that 1MDB made overpriced purchases of power assets in Malaysia through Genting Group in 2012. Genting then allegedly donated this money to a foundation controlled by Najib, who used these funds for election campaign purposes during the 2013 general elections.^[34][35][36] According to a news report quoting 1MDB, the company denied that it overpaid for its energy assets. 1MDB was quoted as saying that their energy acquisitions were made only when the company was convinced of its long-term value.^[37]

Further allegations were made by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that $700 million was transferred from 1MDB and deposited in AmBank and Affin Bank accounts under Najib's name.^[38][39] A task force to investigate these claims had frozen six bank accounts linked to Najib and 1MDB.^[40][41] The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) subsequently, in August 2015, cleared 1MDB of this allegation. MACC issued a statement saying, among other things, "Results of the investigation have found that the RM2.6bil which was allegedly transferred into the account belonging to Najib Razak came from the contribution of donors, and not from 1MDB".^[42]

According to highly placed sources, three of the bank accounts that had been frozen belong to Najib.^[43][44] The WSJ revealed the bank account details online to rebut denials by Najib and his supporters.^[45][46][47] Singapore police had frozen two Singapore bank accounts in connection with their own investigation into the alleged financial mismanagement at 1MDB, after reports stated that $700 million worth of deposits was moved through Falcon Bank in Singapore into Najib's personal accounts in Malaysia.^[48][49] However, 1MDB denied having any knowledge of their accounts being frozen, and said they have not been contacted by any of the foreign investigating authorities.^[50]

The WSJ also reported that 1MDB transferred around $850 million via three transactions in 2014 to a British Virgin Islands-registered company with a name disguising that it was controlled by International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), a United Arab Emirates state investment vehicle, according to wire transfer documents.^[51][52][53]

The WSJ released a report stating that 1MDB failed to pay $1.4 billion to IPIC. The money was owed to IPIC after it had guaranteed a US$3.5 billion bond issued by 1MDB to fund its purchase of power plant assets in 2012.^[54][55][56] The WSJ released another report saying that a further $993 million was missing that 1MDB was supposed to pay IPIC.^[57][58][59] 1MDB responded to the WSJ report, saying that the company continues to enjoy a strong business relationship with IPIC, as proven by the execution of a binding term sheet that saw IPIC assume obligation for a $3.5 billion bond, currently held by 1MDB, and followed a $1 billion cash payment made by IPIC to 1MDB in June.^[60] Earlier in October 2015, IPIC reaffirmed their commitment to working with 1MDB and the Malaysian Ministry of Finance.^[61]

Another report by the WSJ pointed out that 1MDB, in connection with a United States political fundraiser DuSable Capital Management LLC, signed a joint venture agreement creating a fund, Yurus PE Fund, to develop solar power plants in Malaysia.^[62][63] Six months after the joint venture agreement was signed, 1MDB bought out DuSable's stake of 49% of Yurus for $69 million before any construction took place.^[64][65] According to bank transfer information, the WSJ revealed that Najib spent close to $15 million on clothes, jewellery, and a car in places such as the United States, Singapore, and Italy using a credit card that was paid from one of several private bank accounts owned by Najib, that 1MDB funds had been diverted to.^{[66][67][68][69]}

Malaysian investigations and actions[]

Change of auditors and transparency[]

The RM 425 million profit declared between 25 September 2009 and 31 March 2010 raised many criticisms and controversies about the lack of transparency in 1MDB's published accounts. Tony Pua, DAP Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara, questioned Najib, 1MDB's advisory board chairman, as to whether the figures were the result of an asset injection into 1MDB by the government such as the transfer of land rights to the company.^[70][71]

During the October 2010 parliamentary session, 1MDB explained that its accounts had been fully audited and signed off by KPMG, and closed as of 31 March 2010. Deloitte was involved in the valuation and analysis of the portfolio, while Ernst & Young provided tax advice for 1MDB.

1MDB eventually rang alarm bells by asking for a six-month extension on the filing of its annual report with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) due by 30 September 2013. At the same time, the change of three auditors since its inception in 2009 was considered suspicious.^[72][73] Responding to earlier criticism, CCM said that 1MDB had responded and lodged the necessary information, including registering an address, as required by law.^[74]

The Sungai Besi airport land transfer took place in June 2011 as a precedent for the development known as Bandar Malaysia, a mixed integrated project of commercial, residential, and hi-tech green environment.^[75] Prior to this, there had been questions in parliament by the opposition regarding the lack of progress on Bandar Malaysia even though 1MDB had already raised RM 3.5 billion in loans and Islamic bonds to fund the project and take ownership of the land.^[76][77] In April 2013, 1MDB finally awarded a RM 2.1 billion contract to Perbadanan Perwira Harta Malaysia (PPHM), a subsidiary of Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) to develop eight sites for the relocation of Pangkalan Udara Kuala Lumpur, the military base on the Sungai Besi land that was to be developed.^[78] The construction of Bandar Malaysia was set to commence following the completion of this relocation. As part of its debt rationalisation plan, on 31 December 2015, 1MDB inked an agreement with a consortium comprising Iskandar Waterfront Holdings and China Railway Engineering Corporation to sell 60% of its stake in Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd.^[79] This deal however eventually fell through.^[80]

On 7 September 2015, a member of the board of advisors to 1MDB, Abdul Samad Alias, resigned stating that he did so after many of his requests for information on 1MDB affairs were ignored.^[81][82] 1MDB subsequently denied receiving repeated requests from Abdul Samad, stating that its president, Arul Kanda, had personally met Abdul Samad in January and March that year to "discuss the company's affairs".^[83]

1MDB had not had a proper external accounts audit since 2013, partly as a result of Deloitte Malaysia, their auditors at the start of that period, issuing a statement in July 2016 saying that their audit reports of 1MDB financial statements, dated 28 March 2014 and 5 November 2014 covering financial years 2013 and 2014 respectively, should no longer be relied upon.^[84][85] By early March 2015, with public discontent growing at the perceived lack of financial transparency at 1MDB, the Prime Minister, who was also the Chairman of 1MDB's Board of Advisors, ordered the Auditor General of Malaysia to carry out an audit of 1MDB.^[86] However, on completion of the audit, the final report was classified as an Official Secret and only made available to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) tasked to investigate improprieties at 1MDB.^[87][88] Purported copies of the report however surfaced on the internet.^[89][90][91] After Najib's ouster in the 2018 general election, the much-leaked audit report was declassified by the new government on 12 May 2018.^[92]

In May 2018, after the formation of the new Cabinet following Pakatan Harapan's victory in the General Elections, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng ordered the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct a special position audit and review of 1MDB.^[93]

Debts and rating downgrade[]

It was reported that by early 2015, 1MDB has accumulated debts of nearly RM 42 billion.^[94] Further alleged financial challenges caused 1MDB bonds to trade at a record low.^[95][96] Additionally, the Malaysian cabinet rejected a requested RM 3 billion cash injection by 1MDB, narrowing its options to pay off its debts on time.^[97][98][99]

Donation explanation from government[]

On 3 August 2015, the MACC stated that the RM 2.6 billion that had been banked into Najib's personal account came from donors, not 1MDB, but did not elaborate on who the donors were or why the funds were transferred, nor why this explanation had taken so long to emerge since the allegations were first made on 2 July 2015.^[101][102] UMNO Kuantan division chief Wan Adnan Wan Mamat later claimed that the RM 2.6 billion was from Saudi Arabia as thanks for fighting ISIS. He further claimed that the Muslim community in the Philippines as well as southern Thailand had also received similar donations, and that since the donations were made to Najib personally as opposed to UMNO, the funds were deposited into Najib's personal accounts.^[103]

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he was aware of the donation, and said that it was a genuine donation with nothing expected in return.^[104][105] Attorney-general Mohamad Apandi Ali has said that the donation was from one of the sons of the late Saudi King Abdullah,^[106][107] namely Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud.^[108] In an interview with ABC News, WSJ finance editor Ken Brown stated that the money did not come from the Saudis and they had evidence that it came from companies related to 1MDB.^{[109][110][111]}

Bank Negara actions[]

Using the premise that 1MDB had used inaccurate or incomplete disclosure of information, Bank Negara, in early 2016, revoked permissions previously granted to 1MDB for investments abroad totalling $1.83 billion.^[112][113] Bank Negara then called for the Attorney General to begin criminal prosecution of 1MDB after completing its own investigations into 1MDB fund transfers.^[114][115] 1MDB responded that they were unable to repatriate the $1.83 billion demanded by Bank Negara because the funds had already been utilized.^[116]

Police reports[]

The scandal took a dramatic twist on 28 August 2015 when a member of Najib Razak's own UMNO party filed a civil suit against him alleging a breach of duties as trustee and that he defrauded party members by failing to disclose receipt of the donated funds, and account for their use.^[117] This suit was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court and also named party executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusof. Expressing fear that Najib Razak would wield influence to remove any member of UMNO "for the sole purpose of avoiding liability", the court was also being moved for an injunction to restrain UMNO, its Supreme Council, state liaison body, divisions and branches from removing the nominal plaintiff as a party member pending the determination of the suit. The plaintiff is also seeking a repayment amounting to $650 million, the amount allegedly deposited by Najib to a Singapore bank, an account of all monies that he had received in the form of donations, details of all monies in an AmPrivate Banking Account (No. 2112022009694), allegedly belonging to Najib, along with damages, costs, and other reliefs.^[118] One of the UMNO representatives, Anina Saadudin, who filed the lawsuit, was immediately expelled from the party.^{[119][120][121]}

Another police report was filed by a Johor UMNO member, Abdul Rashed Jamaludin, against Najib Razak, over the funds that went into his bank account and other wrongdoings at 1MDB.^[122][123]

Another UMNO member, Khairuddin Abu Hassan, and his lawyer Matthias Chang, has submitted evidence on the 1MDB scandal to the Swiss attorney general for investigation into whether any Swiss banks had done business with 1MDB.^[124][125] Khairuddin also lodged a police report in Hong Kong against Najib Razak and Jho Low, pertaining to four companies: Alliance Assets International, Cityfield Enterprises, Bartingale International and Wonder Quest Investment, which had purported dealings with 1MDB.^[126][127] Khairuddin and Matthias were barred from leaving Malaysia.^{[128][129][130]} Khairuddin and Matthias were charged under the Security Offenses Act (SOSMA) under the pretext of sabotaging Malaysia's banking and financial sector.^{[131][132][133]}

Local lawsuits[]

The opposition People's Justice Party (PKR) has filed a lawsuit against Najib Razak, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, 1MDB and the Election Commission accusing them of violating election laws on campaign expenses, using funds from 1MDB.^[134][135] However, the Malaysian High Court threw out the suit, stating PKR had no legal standing to bring the suit against Najib and 1MDB.^[136][137]

Former Prime Minister Mahathir has filed a lawsuit against Najib Razak for alleged interference in government investigations on 1MDB and the RM 2.6 billion political donation.^{[138][139][140]}

Government actions[]

Following criticisms of the 1MDB issue, deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was removed from office and his position was given to then Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.^[141][142] Also removed from office was Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal who was also critical of the 1MDB issue.^[143][144] Both were eventually expelled from UMNO in June 2016.

The attorney general Abdul Gani Patail, who was heading a multi-agency task force investigating claims of misappropriations of funds allegedly involving Najib Razak and 1MDB, was dismissed and his position given to Mohamed Apandi Ali, a former Federal Court judge.^[145][146] Additionally, the Public Action Committee that was investigating the purported losses in 1MDB was indefinitely postponed due to four of its members being given positions in Najib Razak's cabinet, namely the PAC chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Wilfred Madius Tangau and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.^{[147][148][149]}

The news publications The Edge Malaysia and The Edge Financial Daily were suspended, for three months in July 2015 for allegedly publishing false reports about 1MDB issues, by the Malaysian Home Ministry.^{[150][151][152]} Also in 2015, the website Sarawak Report was blocked by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, which regulates Internet services in Malaysia.^[153][154] The Malaysian police also issued an arrest warrant for Clare Rewcastle Brown, who was managing the Sarawak Report, alleging involvement in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy and disseminating false reports about prime minister Najib.^[155][156]

The police also arrested UMNO member Khairuddin Abu Hassan after he lodged police reports in London, Singapore, France and Hong Kong regarding alleged financial improprieties by 1MDB.^{[157][158][159]} According to his lawyer, Khairuddin was going to the United States to meet with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to urge them to probe 1MDB over money laundering.^[160][161] However, the FBI's New York City office confirmed to the WSJ that no agent had arranged to meet Khairuddin or had any previous contact with him.^[162]

Former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir resigned his office on 3 February 2016, saying he did so because he had been told by Najib Razak that he was in the wrong by criticising him and 1MDB publicly.^[163][164] Four months later, in June, Mukhriz was expelled from UMNO. His father, Mahathir Mohamad, who had been Malaysia's fourth prime minister and who had been a Najib supporter since Najib assumed office, withdrew his support and quit UMNO later that same month.^[165]

Opposition member of parliament Rafizi Ramli was arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act by the police and the government for leaking information about the Auditor General's report on 1MDB.^{[166][167][168]}

The Home Ministry stated that they and Interpol had been unsuccessful in locating various individuals linked to 1MDB to help in facilitating their investigations, including business tycoon Jho Low, 1MDB's former senior executives Casey Tang Keng Chee and Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, SRC International managing director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, and Deutsche Bank country manager Yusof Annuar Yaacob.^{[169][170][171]}

Internet access was blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to websites including Medium.com, a social journalism platform over just a single article posted by Sarawak Report.^[172][173] Another website, Asia Sentinel, was blocked after carrying a Sarawak Report article related to MACC completing a probe that allegedly resulted in 37 charges being drawn up against Najib.^{[174][175][176]} The Malaysian Insider, was also blocked and its journalists investigated for carrying a report alleging that the MACC had found enough evidence in its investigations into Najib to charge him for corruption.^{[177][178][179]} Blocks were removed shortly after Najib's government was deposed.^[180]

Ramifications and debt restructuring default[]

The Malaysian Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into 1MDB revealed that the management of the fund acted without the board's approval and misled auditors several times,^{[181][182][183]} calling for the police to investigate its former manager.^[184][185] The PAC also found that the board of directors in which Najib Razak was the chairman failed in giving proper oversight of the fund's finances.^[186][187] The 1MDB board of directors immediately submitted their resignations after the PAC findings were made public.^{[188][189][190]} The PAC report stated that US$3.5 billion was paid to a company, Aabar Investments PJS, but IPIC released a statement that neither it or its subsidiary Aabar Investments PJS have any links to a British Virgin Islands-incorporated firm Aabar BVI or received any money from that BVI firm.^{[191][192][193]}

International Petroleum Investment Company made an announcement in a filing in the London Stock Exchange that 1MDB failed to make a US$1.1 billion payment as part of its debt restructuring agreement, and that the debt deal between the two companies has been terminated.^{[194][195][196]}

Renewed investigations after 14th general election[]

After the 14th Malaysian general election on 9 May 2018 which marked a historic defeat for the Barisan Nasional coalition led by Najib Razak, Pakatan Harapan formed a new government led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The government set up a special task force headed by former Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to renew investigations into the 1MDB scandal.^[197]

The government barred Najib Razak from leaving the country, and the police seized cash and valuable items amounting to between RM 900 million and RM 1.1 billion ($220 million and $269 million) from residential units linked to Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor. As claimed by the police, this was the biggest seizure in Malaysian history, with the seized items comprising more than 12,000 pieces of jewelry, 423 valuable watches and 567 handbags made up of 37 luxury brands.^[198][199] Najib was subsequently arrested by the MACC.^[200] In September 2018, he faced 25 charges relating to abuse of power and money laundering amounting to RM 2.3 billion ($556 million), on top of seven charges with criminal breach of trust and power abuse brought against him in the preceding two months.^[201] As of April 2019, he stands with 42 charges.

The government has also issued arrest warrants against Jho Low and former director of SRC International Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil in a graft probe related to the state fund 1MDB.^[202]

On 28 June 2018, two days before the end of his employment contract, 1MDB sacked its president and Chief Executive Officer Arul Kanda on grounds of dereliction of duties.^[203]

Media reports from June 2018 also indicate that the MACC froze bank accounts associated with UMNO, purportedly in relation to investigations into the 1MDB matter.^[204]

In August 2018, Malaysian police filed criminal charges against Jho Low and his father Larry Low over money laundering of US$457 million, which was allegedly stolen from 1MDB and most of the cash used for purchasing the superyacht Equanimity.^[205][206] From 29 October through 28 November 2018, the Equanimity was up for auction by investigators (pending a US$1 million deposit).^[207] It was eventually sold to the Genting Group at $126 million.^[208]

In December 2018, the Attorney-General Chambers of Malaysia filed criminal charges against subsidiaries of Goldman Sachs, their former employees Tim Leissner and Roger Ng Chong Hwa, former 1MDB employee Jasmine Loo, and Jho Low in connection with 1MDB bond offerings arranged and underwritten by Goldman Sachs in 2012 and 2013. The prosecutors were seeking criminal fines in excess of $2.7 billion misappropriated from the bonds proceeds, $600 million in fees received by Goldman Sachs, as well as custodial sentences against the individuals accused.^{[209][210][211]}

On 28 July 2020, Najib was found guilty in all seven charges related to SRC and was sentenced to 12 years' jail and a fine of RM 210 million ($49.5 million).^[18]

Investigations by foreign law enforcement agencies[]

Australia[]

The Australian fund management company Avestra Asset Management, which managed up to RM 2.32 billion in 1MDB funds, is being liquidated, and is under investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for reported breaches of the law and potential losses to its members.^{[212][213][214]} The Australian High Court has ordered five investment schemes run by Avestra to close down after discovering undisclosed related-party transactions, with 13 potential breaches of corporate law and failure to invest according to the fund's individual mandates.^[215][216]

Hong Kong[]

Hong Kong police have begun investigations regarding $250 million in Credit Suisse branch deposits in Hong Kong linked to Najib Razak and 1MDB.^[217][218]

Indonesia[]

Indonesia seized the superyacht Equanimity on 28 February 2018 on the island of Bali at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of a corruption investigation linked to the 1MDB scandal.^[219] The Indonesian government returned the yacht to Malaysia in August 2018, following the activation of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties between Indonesia, the United States and Malaysia.^[220][221]

Luxembourg[]

State prosecutors in Luxembourg have also started money laundering investigations concerning 1MDB as it involved transfers of several hundred million dollars to an offshore company involving a bank account from Luxembourg.^{[222][223][224][225]} The bank in question is a private bank of the Edmond de Rothschild Group that manages money on behalf of wealthy clients.^{[226][227][228]}

Seychelles[]

The Seychelles's Financial Intelligence Unit is helping an international investigation into the troubled state fund 1MDB, by providing detailed information relating to offshore entities registered in Seychelles that are related to the international investigation.^{[229][230][231]}

1MBD has not contested, and appears unlikely to contest, any lawsuit which has arisen from the investigations of foreign investigating authorities.^[232]

Singapore[]

In Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Commercial Affairs Department have seized a number of bank accounts in Singapore for possible money-laundering offences related to investigations into alleged financial mismanagement at 1MDB.^{[233][234][235]} One of the bank accounts frozen belonged to Yak Yew Chee, who was the relationship manager for 1MDB Global Investments Ltd, Aabar Investment PJS Limited and SRC International and Low Taek Jho.^{[236][237][238]} Singaporean Yeo Jiawei, an ex-BSI banker, has been charged with money laundering and cheating offences as part of the Singapore probe into 1MDB, and Yeo's dealings with firms linked to 1MDB, Brazen Sky Ltd. and Bridge Partners Investment Management.^[239][240] A second individual, Kelvin Ang Wee Keng, was charged with corruption in connection with the Singaporean investigation into 1MDB.^[241][242]

According to a joint statement from the Attorney General's Chambers and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, assets totalling S$240 million have been seized during their investigations into 1MDB.^[243][244] Of the bank accounts and properties seized were S$120 million belonging to Jho Low and his family.^{[245][246][247]}

In March 2017, MAS issued a 10-year prohibition order against former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner for making false statements on behalf of his bank without its knowledge.^[248] The prohibition order, which prevents him from performing any regulated activity under the Securities and Futures Act and from managing any capital market services firm in Singapore, was extended in December 2018 from 10 years to lifetime after he admitted to charges related to an investigation into the 1MDB scandal.^[249][250]

In September 2018, the Singapore State Courts granted the return of 1MDB monies with a total value of S$15.3 million to Malaysia while solicitors for the Malaysian government stated that efforts to recover other unlawfully misappropriated assets were ongoing.^[251][252]

Switzerland[]

Swiss authorities under the direction of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland began to freeze bank accounts amounting to several million US dollars linked to 1MDB.^{[253][254][255]} The Swiss attorney general's office said its investigation revealed indications that funds estimated to be US$4 billion may have been misappropriated and said it was looking into four cases of potential criminal conduct.^[256][257] The Swiss prosecutor has said that money had been deposited into Swiss bank accounts of former Malaysian public officials and current and former officials of United Arab Emirates.^{[258][259][260]} Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) has begun investigations into several Swiss banks as part of the money laundering probe involving 1MDB.^{[261][262][263]}

On 15 March 2018, the Swiss parliament rejected a motion to return seized monies from their investigations into 1MDB to the Malaysian people, as had been lobbied for by Swiss politicians and non-governmental bodies.^[264] However, on 10 July 2018, Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber indicated that Switzerland would not enrich itself by keeping illicit or stolen assets and be able to have the monies returned by legal obligations.^[265]

United Arab Emirates[]

The United Arab Emirates has issued travel bans and frozen bank accounts of former Abu Dhabi sovereign-wealth fund International Petroleum Investment Company's employees Khadem al-Qubaisi and Mohammed Badawy Al Husseiny who had close connections to 1MDB, and may have used the British Virgin Islands-based Aabar Investments PJS to funnel money from 1MDB into various accounts and companies around the world.^[266][267]

United Kingdom[]

The UK's Serious Fraud Office has begun an investigations into money laundering involving 1MDB, after it was highlighted by the investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown and the Sarawak Report.^[268][269] The UK's investigation is focusing on the transfer of money from 1MDB funds in Malaysia to Switzerland as it involved Royal Bank of Scotland's branch in Zurich.^[270][271]

United States[]

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2015 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had begun investigations into money laundering involving 1MDB.^{[272][273][274]} The international corruption unit of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) began a probe into property purchases in the United States involving Najib Razak's stepson Riza Aziz and the transfer of millions of dollars into Najib Razak's personal account.^[275][276] The probe was looking at properties purchased by shell companies belonging to Riza Aziz and close family friend Jho Low.^[277][278] Investment banks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co., Deutsche Bank AG and Wells Fargo were asked by the DOJ to retain and turn over records that might be related to improper transfers from 1MDB.^{[279][280][281]} The FBI issued subpoenas to several past and present employees of film production company Red Granite Pictures, co-founded by Najib Razak's stepson Riza Aziz, also its chairman, in regards to allegations that US$155 million was diverted from 1MDB to help finance the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street.^{[282][283][284][285]}

Also under scrutiny by the FBI and DOJ was the role of global investment bank Goldman Sachs in alleged money laundering and corruption.^{[286][287][288]} The FBI probed the connection between Najib and a regional top executive of Goldman Sachs, and the nature of the latter's involvement in multibillion-dollar deals with 1MDB.^[289] Tim Leissner, the former chairman of Goldman Sachs' Southeast Asia branch and husband of Kimora Lee Leissner, was issued a subpoena by the DOJ as part of their investigations.^{[290][291][292]} In the July 2016 DOJ civil lawsuit,^[293] a high-ranking government official having control over 1MDB, who was referred to more than 30 times as "Malaysian Official 1" ("MO1"), was alleged to have received around US$681 million (RM 2.8 billion) of stolen 1MDB money via Falcon Bank in Singapore on 21 and 25 March 2013, of which US$650 million (RM 2.0 billion) was sent back to Falcon Bank on 30 August 2013.^[294] In September 2016, Najib Razak was identified as "MO1" by Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, then Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.^[295][296] The wife of "MO1", Rosmah Mansor, was also alleged to have received US$30 million worth of jewels financed from pilfered 1MDB funds.^[297]

In June 2017, the DOJ began actions to recover more than US$1 billion from people close to Najib and 1MDB,^{[298][299][300][301]} seizing assets including high-end properties in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Manhattan, New York City and London,^[302][303] as well as fine artwork, a private jet, a luxury yacht and royalties from the film The Wolf of Wall Street and its production company Red Granite Pictures.^{[304][305][306]} On 7 March 2018, in California courts, the producers of the film agreed to pay US$60 million to settle DOJ's claims that they financed the movie with money siphoned from 1MDB.^[307] The claims were settled in August 2018, with the settlement stipulating that the payment should not be construed as "an admission of wrongdoing or liability on the part of Red Granite".^[308]

On 1 November 2018, the DOJ announced that two former Goldman Sachs bankers, Tim Leissner and Roger Ng, as well as Malaysian fugitive financier Jho Low, were charged over funds misappropriated from 1MDB and paying bribes to various Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials. Tim Leissner admitted in a plea that more than US$200 million in proceeds from 1MDB bonds flowed into accounts controlled by him and a relative.^{[309][310][311]} He agreed to forfeit US$43.7 million (RM 185 million) and pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, while Roger Ng was arrested in Malaysia at the request of DOJ and extradited to the US for prosecution before returning and facing charges in Malaysia.^{[312][313][314][315][316]} According to Roger Ng's lawyers, he was infected with Dengue fever and leptospirosis while in Malaysian jail and lost a significant amount of weight.^[317][318]

On 30 November 2018, the DOJ announced that George Higginbotham, a former DOJ employee, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deceive US banks about the source and purpose of foreign funds for a lobbying campaign against the US investigations into the 1MDB scandal. The DOJ filed a lawsuit to recover more than US$73 million (RM 305 million) in American bank accounts that Higginbotham helped open on behalf of Jho Low to finance the lobbying campaign.^{[319][320][321]} Further in May 2019, the DOJ announced that it had charged Jho Low and former Fugees rapper Pras for conspiring to funnel US$21.6 million from overseas accounts into the 2012 presidential election.^[322]

On 1 November 2019, Barron's reported that Jho Low had forfeited over $100 million in luxury homes as part of a settlement with prosecutors in the United States. Overall, he agreed to give up some $700 million in assets to the U.S. Department of Justice to have charges dropped, without admitting guilt.^[323]

Elliott Broidy was charged by the Federal authorities in the violation of Foreign Agents Registration Act as per public court filing published on 8th October 2020. Broidy reportedly took $6 million from agents of Malaysia and China to lobby officials from the administration to end the investigation 1MDB scandal. Broidy was also charged for lobbying White House officials in alignment to UAE’s interest.^[324][325]

On 23 February 2022, the star witness in the bribery trial of former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng being held in New York, testified that ex-Goldman chief Lloyd Blankfein met in 2009 with then Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak just ahead of big bond deals for the country’s 1MDB fund — and that the meeting came with an agenda. In return for the lucrative business, Goldman was to get Najib’s three children jobs at the bank.^[326] On 24 February, Najib's daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib has confirmed that she did try to apply for a job at Goldman Sachs. She said she once met two former Goldman Sachs employees, Roger Ng and Tim Leissner as part of her networking efforts to land a "competitive job".^[327] Ultimately, an officer within Goldman rejected progressing with any job offer within the group.^[328]

On 24 February 2022, it was announced that the trial of Roger Ng has been paused because the prosecutors didn't share more than 15 000 documents with the defense lawyers rešresenting Robert Ng.^[329]

Recovery of 1MDB assets[]

Malaysia has so far recovered US$322 million (RM1.3 billion) worth of 1MDB assets since its renewed investigations into the 1MDB scandal after the 14th General Election in May 2018.^[330]

Steps have been taken to preserve the value of the assets caught up in the case, including the sale of the Park Lane Hotel in New York in November 2018, a step endorsed by the U.S. DOJ, in accordance with the rule of law and on the basis of no admission of wrongdoing or liability.^[331] In August 2018, Malaysian authorities seized a yacht allegedly purchased by Low, selling it some eight months later to minimize the costs associated with maintaining it. A spokesperson for Low described the seizure as "illegal".^[332][333]

The recovered funds include the sum of US$126 million from the Equanimity judicially sold to the Genting Group, US$139 million to be returned by the United States after sale of Jho Low's interest in Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan, and US$57 million from a forfeiture settlement of Red Granite Pictures, which has been repatriated to Malaysia after deducting the costs incurred for investigations, seizures and litigation.^[330]

Apart from the above, another sum of S$50 million (RM152 million) related to 1MDB has been ordered by the Singapore Courts to be repatriated.^[330]

Malaysia has been working with at least six countries to recover about US$4.5 billion worth of assets allegedly stolen from 1MDB,^[334] in which US$1.7 billion (RM7 billion) worth of assets have been sought by the DOJ to forfeit.^[330]

On 15 April 2020, it was reported that the DOJ had returned US$300 million in funds stolen during the 1MDB scandal to Malaysia.^[335]

On 24 July 2020, it was announced that the Malaysian government would receive US$2.5 billion in cash from Goldman Sachs, and a guarantee from the bank they would also return US$1.4 billion in assets linked to 1MDB bonds.^[336] Put together this was substantially less than the US$7.5 billion that had been previously demanded by the Malaysian finance minister. At the same time, the Malaysian government agreed to drop all criminal charges against the bank and that it would cease legal proceedings against 17 current and former Goldman directors. Some commentators argued that Goldman had got away with a very good deal.^[337]

In January 2022, the Malaysian government received RM 333 million ($111 million) as a fine from the local affiliate of KPMG in settlement of the lawsuit filed against it.^[338]

Timeline[]

2009[]

July

• 1MDB is founded with Najib Razak as the advisory board chairman.^[339]

September

• 1MDB enters into a US$2.5 billion joint venture with private Saudi oil company PetroSaudi International.^[26][340]

2010[]

May

• 1MDB signs deals with sovereign wealth funds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, UAE.^{[341][342][339]} It also jointly undertakes the development of the old airport in Sungai Besi and the project is named Bandar Malaysia.^[341]

2012[]

March

• 1MDB buys Tanjong Energy Holdings for RM8.5 billion from tycoon Ananda Krishnan.^[343]
• Najib launches the Tun Razak Exchange project.^[344]

May to October

• US investment bank Goldman Sachs helps 1MDB sell bonds worth $3.5 billion to raise money to buy power assets.^[345]

2013[]

March

• Goldman Sachs helps 1MDB raise a further $3bn in an additional bond sale, this time to cover "new strategic economic initiatives" between Malaysia and Abu Dhabi.^[345]

5 May

• Malaysia's 2013 General Elections is held. Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition wins the simple majority but the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat, led by Anwar Ibrahim wins the popular vote.^[346]

December

• The movie The Wolf of Wall Street, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio is released.^[347] The movie credits Jho Low.^[347]

2014[]

March

• 1MDB is reportedly over $10 billion in debt.^[348]

2015[]

January

• Around 227,000 leaked documents related to the fraud are handed to Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, and to the Wall Street Journal.^[349] The documents were reportedly leaked by Xavier Andre Justo, a retired Swiss banker, who had previously worked with PetroSaudi.^[350]

29 May

• 1MDB gets a US$1 billion injection from Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company, which will be used to repay a US$975 million loan to a syndicate of international bank lenders.^[351]

3 June

• Malaysia's central bank launches an inquiry into 1MDB's workings.^[352]

2 July

• The Wall Street Journal releases a report alleging US$700 million (RM 2.6 billion) of deposits have flowed into Najib's personal bank accounts.^[353]

4 July

• Najib denies allegations that the cash was found in his bank accounts.^[354]

7 July

• A special task force formed to probe allegations that millions of dollars had been channeled into Najib's bank accounts announces a freeze order for six accounts linked to the case.^[355]

8 July

• Police raid the 1MDB office.^[356]

9 July

• The Attorney-General's Chambers says that the six accounts which were ordered to be frozen were not linked to Najib, as his accounts with AmBank Islamic had already been closed by then.^[357]

20 July

• News website Sarawak Report is blocked by the Malaysian government.^[358]

28 July

• Following criticism, Najib performs a cabinet reshuffle. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal were sacked.^[359]
• Attorney General Abdul Ghani Patail is also sacked and replaced by Apandi Ali.^[360]

3 August

• The MACC announces the task force has completed its investigation. It revealed the $700 million that allegedly went into Najib's accounts were from donations and had nothing to do with 1MDB.^[361]

4 August

• An arrest warrant is issued for editor Claire Rewcastle-Brown.^[362]

17 August

• Thai authorities hands Justo a three-year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to stealing information from PetroSaudi International (PSI).^[363]

29–30 August

• The Bersih 4 rally was held, with thousands joining, including former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Siti Hasmah. Mahathir, with other participants urge Najib to resign.^[364]

September onwards

• Several countries, including Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Switzerland, begin investigating financial firms and banks Najib allegedly used to siphon funds.^{[365][366][367]}

20 October

• Thai police give Malaysian counterparts approval to question Justo.^[368]

25 November

• 1MDB CEO Shahrol Halmi is questioned by Malaysia's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).^[369] He is later called back in on 30 Nov for further questioning.^[370]

1 December

• PAC questions 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy.^[371]

5 December

• Najib gives a statement to the MACC on the issue of the almost US$700 million found in his personal bank accounts and on SRC international.^[372]

31 December

• MACC submits 1MDB investigation papers to the Attorney General.^[373]

2016[]

26 January

• Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali clears Najib of any wrongdoing, saying in a statement that US$681 million transferred into Najib's account was a "personal donation from the Saudi royal family". "A sum of US$620 million was returned by the Prime Minister to Saudi royal family because it was not utilised," the statement adds.^[374]

29 January

• Swiss prosecutors request assistance from Malaysian authorities as they believe around US$4 billion was stolen from Malaysian state-owned companies. "A small portion" of the cash was transferred into Swiss accounts held by former Malaysian officials as well as current and former officials from the United Arab Emirates, the Swiss attorney general's office says in a statement.^{[375][376][377]}

1 February

• Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issue a joint statement, saying a "large number" of bank accounts in relation to a probe into 1MDB have been seized.^{[378][379][380]}

3 February

• Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir resigns.^[381]

7 February

• Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir says he believes the funds that went into Najib's personal account were not a political donation from the Saudi government, but that they had been part of a business deal.^[382]

19 February

• 1MDB says in a statement that a Wall Street Journal report stating that it paid funds into the personal accounts of Najib is an "outright lie".^[383]

29 February

• Mahathir announces his departure from UMNO and also his withdrawal of support from Najib.^[384]

4 March

• The public and political protests had culminated in the Malaysian Citizens' Declaration by Mahathir, oppositions and NGO's to oust Najib.^[385][386]

23 March

• Malaysia central bank governor Zeti Aktar Aziz says Bank Negara has initiated administrative punitive action against 1MDB after it failed to provide documents on its finances abroad.^[387]

31 March

• The Wall Street Journal publishes a report claiming that Najib spent lavishly on luxury goods overseas, using funds diverted from 1MDB.^[388]

2 April

• 1MDB denies reports that it provided funds to finance the movie The Wolf of Wall Street.^[389]

5 April

• Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli is arrested under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) for leaking the Auditor General's 1MDB report.^[390]

7 April

• 1MDB's board of directors offer to resign after a report released by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee said it found the state investment fund's financing and performance "unsatisfactory".^[391]

9 April

• PAC chairman Hasan Ariffin says there is no evidence to indicate any wrongdoing or abuse of power by Najib.^[392]

12 April

• Swiss authorities expand its investigation into 1MDB to two former officials in charge of Abu Dhabi sovereign funds.^[393]
• Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers receives a request for legal assistance from Switzerland with regard to 1MDB.^[393]

13 April

• 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy says the state investment fund could be a victim of fraud – after the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund, the International Petroleum Investment Company, denied receiving payment from 1MDB.^[394]

19 April

• Mahathir applies for a court order to freeze Najib's assets.^[395]
• 1MDB also says it is working to resolve the dispute with International Petroleum Investment Company.^[396]

28 April

• Malaysia's central bank fines 1MDB for "failure to fully comply with directions under the Financial Services Act".^[397]

24 May

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore announces it has ordered the closure of Switzerland's BSI Bank in Singapore over "serious breaches of anti-money laundering requirements, poor management oversight of the bank’s operations, and gross misconduct by some of the bank’s staff".^[398][399]

31 May

• Malaysia's Ministry of Finance announces the appointment of a new board of directors for 1MDB, succeeding the previous board.^[400]

11 July

• 1MDB agrees to resolve its dispute with International Petroleum Investment Company via the London Court of International Arbitration.^[401]

21 July

• United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch announces the filing of civil forfeiture complaints seeking the forfeiture and recovery of more than US$1 billion in assets associated with an alleged international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated from 1MDB.^[402][403]

9 August

• Justo receives a royal pardon and has his three-year sentence commuted by one third.^[404]

11 October

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore orders the Singapore branch of Falcon Bank to cease operations for serious failures in anti-money laundering controls and improper conduct by senior management. MAS also imposes fines on DBS and UBS banks for breaches of its anti-money laundering requirements. This comes after "supervisory examinations by MAS into 1MDB-related fund flows" that took place through the three banks from March 2013 to May 2015, MAS said.^[405]

2 December

• MAS fines Standard Chartered Singapore and Coutts & Co for breaches of anti-money laundering requirements that occurred in the context of 1MDB-related fund flows.^[406]

2017[]

22 March

• US authorities plan to file criminal charges against Jho Low, who is suspected to be at the center of the 1MDB scandal, the Wall Street Journal reports.^[407]

24 April

• 1MDB reaches a settlement deal with Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company.^[408]

30 May

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore announces the completion of its two-year review of the banks involved in 1MDB-related transactions known-to-date. It says it has imposed financial penalties on Credit Suisse and United Overseas Bank, issued Prohibition Orders against three individuals and served notice of its intention to impose and same regulatory action on three others.^[409][410]

15 June

• US authorities move to seize another US$540 million in assets, allegedly stolen via 1MDB and used to fund extravagant spending.^[411]

16 June

• Filings by the US Justice Department in a civil lawsuit claim that nearly US$30 million of funds stolen from 1MDB was used to buy jewellery for the wife of "Malaysian Official 1".^[412]

1 August

• International Petroleum Investment Company gives 1MDB five days to make a US$600 million payment, which it failed to pay on 31 Jul 1MDB says it will make the payment within the month.^[413]

2 August

• Najib says 1MDB's failure to make the US$600 million payment to International Petroleum Investment Company was "a technical matter, and not a question of not being able to pay back".^[414]

11 August

• 1MDB says it has remitted US$350 million to International Petroleum Investment Company. This comes after Abu Dhabi extended the deadline for 1MDB to make its US$600 million debt repayment, provided at least US$310 million was paid by 12 Aug.^[415]

30 August

• 1MDB says it has remitted the second tranche due on 31 August 2017, in full.^[416]

23 October

• Malaysia asks Interpol to try to locate Jho Low for questioning over his suspected involvement in the 1MDB scandal.^[417]

1 November

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore issues prohibition orders against two individuals involved in breaches related to 1MDB.^[418]

19 December

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore issues more financial bans in its 1MDB investigation.^[419]

27 December

• International Petroleum Investment Company says 1MDB has paid the settlement amount in full.^[420]

2018[]

28 February

• Indonesian authorities seize Jho Low's luxury yacht Equanimity, which was linked to the probe, which was moored at Benoa Bay, Bali.^[421]

1 March

• The Wall Street Journal publishes an article based upon numerous emails among Elliott Broidy, his wife Robin Rosenzweig, and Jho Low in which Jho Low would pay Broidy $75 million if Broidy could get the United States Justice Department to drop its investigations into 1MDB.^[422][423]

9 May

• Opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, led by Mahathir, wins in the country's general elections, defeating Najib and his Barisan Nasional coalition.^[424]

12 May

• Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor are barred from leaving Malaysia. He later resigns as UMNO and Barisan Nasional chairman.^[425]

16–17 May

• Malaysian police seize luxury items from residences owned by Najib.^[426]

21 May

• A special task force that will look into possible criminal conduct of individuals involved in the management of 1MDB has been set up.^[427]

22 May

• Najib is questioned by the MACC.^[428]

24 May

• Najib is questioned by the MACC for the second time.^[429]
• The 1MDB task force convenes a meeting with the FBI and the United States' Department of Justice (DOJ) officials.^[430]

5 June

• Rosmah is questioned by the MACC.^[431]

7 June

• Malaysian police issue an arrest warrant for Jho Low and former director of SRC International Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.^[432]

19 June

• In an interview with Reuters, Mahathir describes the 1MDB case against Najib is "almost perfect".^[433]

27 June

• Police reveal the total amount of items seized at between RM 900 million and RM 1.1 billion (US$220 million and US$269 million).^[434]

28 June

• 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda is fired, two days before the end of his contract.^[435]

3 July

• Najib is arrested by the MACC.^[436] He is charged with four counts of CBT and abuse of power over RM 42 million transferred into his private account from SRC International the following day.^[437]

5 August

• The Equanimity leaves Bali, where it was seized, to Batam island, before arriving at Port Klang two days later.^[438][439]

8 August

• Najib is charged with three additional counts of money laundering.^[440][441]

18 September

• The book, "Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World" by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope of The Wall Street Journal is published.^[442]

20 September

• Najib is further slapped with 25 charges of graft and money laundering over 1MDB-linked transactions amounting to RM2.3 billion.^[443]

25 October

• Najib and former Treasury Secretary General Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah are slapped with six CBT charges involving RM 6.6 billion worth of government funds.^[444]

29 October

• The Equanimity is put up to auction, pending a US$1 million deposit.^[445]

12 December

• Najib is charged for reportedly tampering with the 1MDB audit report.^[446]
• Arul Kanda is also charged for abetting Najib.^[447]

2019[]

3 April

• Najib's trial on the SRC International begins.^[448]
• Equanimity is auctioned off to the Genting group at US$126 million.^[449] The yacht was subsequently renamed to Tranquility.^[450]

8 May

• Attorney General Tommy Thomas says so far Malaysia has recovered US$322 million (RM1.3 billion) worth of 1MDB assets.^[451]

4 July

• Red Granite Pictures founder and producer Riza Aziz arrested in Malaysia on money laundering charges.^[452]

27 August

• The High Court sets 11 November as the date to deliver its decision on Najib on the SRC International trial.^[453]

28 August

• Najib's 1MDB trial begins.^[454]

11 November

• The High Court orders Najib to enter defence on all seven charges involving abuse of SRC International funds.^[455]

2020[]

8 January

• The MACC releases nine phone audio recordings received about a week earlier, recorded between 5 January to 29 July 2016, totaling about 45 minutes, revealing Najib's attempts to cover up investigations into the 1MDB scandal, which MACC chief Latheefa Beebi Koya described as "shocking, as there are attempts at cover-ups and subversion of justice".^[456][457] One of the audio recordings featured a conversation between Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, who sounded upset at Najib's mishandling on the scandal. In another audio recording, Najib was seeking help from United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to help clear Najib's stepson, Riza Aziz's involvement in the scandal.^[458]

17 March

• Officials from the Malaysia's Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said that Malaysia has recovered US$322 million stolen from the scandal-hit sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, a fraction of the more than US$4.5 billion US prosecutors say was looted.^[459]

15 April

• The US Department of Justice returns US$300 million in funds stolen during the 1MDB scandal to Malaysia.^{[335][460][461]}

28 July

• Najib Razak is found guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering, a total of seven charges for the SRC International trial. The verdict was announced on the first of five trials related to this scandal.^{[462][463][464]} He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment along with a fine of RM 210 million (US$49.5 million).^[18][465]

18 September

• The U.S. Department of Justice initiated civil forfeiture proceedings against funds held by a law firm in London. The US$330 million were misappropriated 1MDB money, apparently intended for an oil project in Venezuela that later failed.^[466]

22 October

• The U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release stating that international investment bank Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay $2.9 billion in penalties to regulators around the world, including a record penalty for violating a U.S. anti-corruption law, to resolve probes into its role in the 1MDB scandal.^[467]

2021[]

5 April

• Malaysia's Court of Appeal began hearing a bid by former Prime Minister Najib Razak to set aside his conviction on corruption charges in a case linked to a multi-billion dollar scandal at 1MDB.^[468]

18 May

• Najib Razak’s appeal hearing against his conviction and jail sentence for misappropriation of RM42mil in SRC International Sdn Bhd's funds at the Court of Appeal was completed after the court heard the arguments from both parties for 15 days.^[469]

20 May

• The ruling government failed to forfeit the RM114 million cash that was part of RM680 million in cash, jewellery and other assets seized from Najib's Pavilion Residence on 17 May 2018 as the prosecution was unable to prove that the money was laundered from the state fund.^[470]

21 June

• Subsequent to 20 May 2021 court ruling, the prosecution decided not to appeal the case any further.^[471]

24 November

• The Court of Appeal maintained Dec 8 for its decision concerning former prime minister Najib Razak's appeal to quash his conviction and sentencing in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.^[472]

8 December

• The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction and sentence of Najib Razak in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, where Najib was found guilty of misappropriation RM42mil from the company's coffers.^[473]

10 December

• Umno has filed an application for a stay of proceedings in a suit against it by SRC International Sdn Bhd for allegedly receiving a misappropriated sum of RM16 million from the company.^[474]

2022[]

24 January

• Former prime minister Najib Razak is seeking to appoint a Queen’s Counsel from the United Kingdom to act on his behalf in his appeal to quash his conviction in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.^[475]

9 February

• The Commercial Division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court has granted an ex-parte Mareva injunction to 1MDB and its subsidiaries to freeze former prime minister Najib Razak or his agents in relation to their claim of US$681 million allegedly going into his personal bank account.^[476]

1 March

• Former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner has revealed that two private secretaries of then-prime minister Najib Razak were involved in facilitating the third bond issuance worth US$3 billion for 1MDB.^[477]
• Former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner testified that he was once told by Jho Low that he had talked to Jared Kushner and others close to then US president Donald Trump on the 1MDB affair.^[478]

2 March

• Former prime minister Najib Razak told the Dewan Rakyat that not a single sen of public funds has been used by the government to repay the principal amount of 1MDB debts. He said this is because various entities, including Goldman Sachs, audit firms KPMG and Deloitte, Ambank and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) had returned 1MDB funds totalling RM23 billion to Malaysia.^[479][480]

15 March

• A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent who worked on the 1MDB case testified in court that former prime minister Najib Razak received US$756 million (RM3.18 billion) of misappropriated 1MDB funds.^[481]
• Najib Razak is hoping for a retrial over the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.^[482]
• Najib Razak has submitted his written explanation on his remark early this month, that the government has yet to service 1MDB’s principal debt. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun’s office confirmed the matter to the media when asked.^[483]

16 March

• A five-member Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has unanimously dismissed Najib Razak's appeal to adduce more evidence to the SRC International Sdn Bhd graft case in a bid to overturn his conviction and sentence.^[484]

17 March

• The prosecution objected to Najib Razak’s lawyer’s line of questioning of a witness in the ex-premier’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial.^[485]

See also[]

• ms:Kontroversi Najib Razak (Najib Razak controversies)
• Murder of Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa
• China–Malaysia relations
• Corruption in Malaysia
• Debt-trap diplomacy
• History of Malaysia

Citations[]

Bibliography[]

• Brown, Clare Rescastle (2018). The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of the 1MDB Exposé. Gerak Budaya. p. 496. ISBN 9789670311166. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018.
• Wright, Tom; Hope, Bradley (2018). Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World. Hachette UK. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-316-43648-9.

External links[]

• The Guardian, "1MDB: The inside story of the world’s biggest financial scandal", 28 July 2016.
• Global Witness:
  • "The Real Wolves of Wall Street – The banks, lawyers and auditors at the heart of Malaysia’s biggest corruption scandal" (HTML), March 2018.
  • "The Real Wolves of Wall Street – The banks, lawyers and auditors at the heart of Malaysia’s biggest corruption scandal" (PDF), March 2018.
• Bloomberg News, "A Guide to the Worldwide Probes of Malaysia's 1MDB Fund", 8 March 2018.