THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has identified 20 individuals who allegedly own assets paid for with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds, Utusan Malaysia reports. 

Among the 20 individuals are two special officers to a former prime minister, added the report.

The assets include real estate, bank deposits as well as stocks, paintings, and jewellery, all of which were traced to foreign countries, the report said, citing anti-graft sources.

“All the assets identified are part of the 30% of 1MDB funds MACC is still detailing in an effort to recover them.

“All the assets are believed to be in several countries such as Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Singapore, the United States, Kuwait, Germany, Mauritius and offshore and several other countries,” said a source quoted in the report.

MACC is now actively trying to secure the assets through the cooperation of law enforcement agencies in the country, the source added. 

Previous reports said MACC is tracking down assets related to 1MDB, involving several names mentioned by former chairman of Goldman Sachs for Southeast Asia, Tim Leissner.

Leissner was the main prosecution witness in the trial of his former colleague at Goldman Sachs Roger Ng, who was accused of helping embezzle Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund when the scheme existed from 2009 to 2014.

During the trial of the case in the United States, Leissner mentioned the names of, among others, the former chief executive officer of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd, Rohana Rozhan. 

Last week, MACC confirmed Rohana had voluntarily returned US$10 million (RM44.3 million) and assets linked to 1MDB funds to the agency last year. – March 27, 2023.