SINGAPORE (June 12): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is on the lookout for four individuals who are allegedly related to its investigation of financial irregularities at strategic investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The MACC is urging the four individuals – Tan Kim Loong, Tang Keng Chee, Geh Choh Heng and Loo Ai Swan – to come forward to authorities.
“MACC requests that all of the individuals come forward to assist with the relevant investigation,” the agency said in a statement release on Monday, while releasing photos of the four individuals.
Tan, 40, whose last known residence is in Kepong, was featured in a chart of “who’s who of Malaysians in Jho Low’s web”, which was published by The Edge Malaysia weekly on Monday. It was reported that Tan had appeared in several bank documents that are allegedly related to the laundering of 1MDB funds.
Tan’s name was seen in accounts such as Tanore Finance at Falcon Bank in Singapore, where allegedly US$681 million had gone to and from the AmBank account of Malaysia’s ex-prime minister Najib Razak.
Previously, Tan was thought to be an alias for Low, but the MACC disproved this yesterday.
Both Tan and Low are wanted by the Singaporean authorities, which had already issued arrest warrants for the duo earlier in April and May 2016. They have also been placed on Interpol’s “Red Notices” since Oct 2016.
Meanwhile, Loo’s name has popped up previously in a lawsuit issued by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). She was the former general counsel of 1MDB.
On the other hand, Tang was also mentioned in the DoJ’s lawsuit and was identified as 1MDB Officer 1. He was the executive director of investments in 1MDB and was accused by the Public Accounts Committee of misleading the board of 1MDB with various presentations made to justify 1MDB investments.
Tang was put in Bank Negara’s wanted list earlier in 2015.
Geh, 47, is also on MACC’s hunting list, along with his younger brother, Geh Choh Hun, 39, who is said to be a good friend of Low. The younger Geh and Low helped Barisan Nasional to campaign in the 2013 general election via the 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club, which saw them give out millions of ringgit in cash and dinner.
The two Penangites also brought in Korean superstar Psy for a concert, which was attended by Najib.
Following MACC’s announcement yesterday, Najib reiterated on his Facebook page that he did not receive any benefit or stolen money from 1MDB or any parties and is confident that the court will prove his innocent if he were to be charged for political reasons.
He also mentioned that unlike the fourth prime minister, his children did not own public-listed companies, millions worth of luxury supercars and have never been awarded government contracts or did business with the government.