THE US Department of Justice has filed fresh complaints, seeking the forfeiture and recovery of US$38 million (RM154 million) in 1Malaysia Development Bhd-linked assets, reports Reuters.

The complaints bring to US$1.7 billion the value of assets now subject to forfeiture.

“These new suits target assets collected by corrupt officials and their associates through a massive scheme that stole billions of dollars from the people of Malaysia and laundered the proceeds across the world,” US attorney Nick Hanna was quoted as saying.

The complaints, filed in California yesterday, are after luxury real estate in London and New York, and converted equity in a Kentucky facilities management company, with DoJ saying they are tied to 2012 and 2013 bond offerings from 1MDB.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin this week said the government will postpone the extradition of a former Goldman Sachs banker wanted in the multibillion-dollar scandal so that he can face criminal charges in Malaysia first.

DoJ estimates that US$4.5 billion was misappropriated by high-level 1MDB officials and their associates between 2009 and 2014, including funds that Goldman Sachs helped raise as underwriter and arranger of three bond sales totalling US$6.5 billion.

The bank has consistently denied wrongdoing, and previously said certain members of the former Barisan Nasional government and 1MDB had lied about the sales’ proceeds. – February 23, 2019.