POLICE have detailed the criminal charges filed against five individuals, including businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, said Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Fuzi said the five individuals faced 13 charges involving losses amounting to US$1.17 billion (RM4.2 billion).

“The Bukit Aman Commercial CID conducted investigations on 1MDB over various criminal offences involving financial transactions and they were submitted to the attorney-general on December 3.

“After studying the case, the attorney-general decided that police file charges under the Penal Code and Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (Act 613) at the sessions court in Jalan Duta yesterday,” he said in a statement today.

The five individuals involved are businessman Jho Low, Tan Kim Loong @ Eric, 1MDB business development director Tang Keng Chee @ Casey, 1MDB general counsel Loo Ai Swan @ Jasmine and 1MDB finance executive director Geh Choh Heng @ Terence.

Jho Low faces five charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 over receiving US$1.03 billion in the account of Bank Good Star Limited at RBS Coutts Bank Ag, Zurich, Switzerland between September 30, 2009, to October 25, 2011.

He and Tan were jointly charged with two charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 involving losses of US$126 million they received via an account of RBS Bank Limited, Singapore owned by Acme Time Limited, where the transaction involved the issuance of Islamic Medium Term Notes by Terengganu Investment Authority Berhad (TIA) in May 2009.

Tang faces one charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code (criminal breach of trust by an agent) on the transfer of US$700 million into the account of Good Star Limited, owned by Jho Low.

He also faces two more charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 involving losses of US$6.7 million, which was received in the account of Transnation Limited (Seychelles) at RBS Coutts Bank Ag and Totality Limited in BSI Bank Sa, Switzerland, respectively on August 5, 2009, and December 23, 2010.

Loo faces two charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 involving losses of US$6 million received in an account of Falcon Private Bank Ag, Zurich, Switzerland, owned by River Dee International Sa (BVI) on December 6, 2012, and on July 1, 2014. 

Geh faces one charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code (criminal breach of trust by an agent) on the transfer of US$125 million into the account of Good Star Limited on October 25, 2011.

Fuzi said the warrants of arrest had been obtained from the court and efforts were being carried out to track down and arrest the five individuals who had fled the country.

“Police will seek the assistance of foreign authorities and Interpol to track them down.

“If they are detected, police, via the Attorney-General’s Chambers, will seek their extradition to enable them to be brought back to Malaysia to face the charges in court,” he said. – Bernama, December 5, 2018.