The Justice Department is charging Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho and two former bankers from Goldman Sachs with embezzlement.
The suspects are believed to be connected to money laundering and embezzlement of one billion dollars from Malaysia’s state-run wealth fund — 1MDB.
The Justice Department is claiming Low used 1MDB money to purchase high end real estate in the U.S., fund Hollywood films and bribe foreign officials.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, walks out of courtroom at Kuala Lumpur High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. Najib arrived in court for the management of his corruption trial involving the 1MDB state investment fund. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
The FBI began their probe into 1MDB back in 2016, alleging former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak benefited from the scheme. However, Razak — who is on trial in Malaysia — has denied all accusations.
“My conscience is clear that the decisions taken were taken for the interests of the nation,” stated the former Malaysian Prime Minister. “The charges that were leveled, there were no indication or no accusation of benefiting, personally benefiting, from the decisions we have taken.”
Meanwhile, the DOJ says Low, who is one of the main suspects in the 1MDB case, has fled Malaysia and remains at large.
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:39 AM PT — Fri. Nov. 2, 2018
