(June 26): Police have yet to receive a request from their Thai counterparts to track Malaysians allegedly involved in the tampering of documents and emails taken from PetroSaudi International about its deal with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), Commercial Crime director Datuk Mortadza Nazarene said today.

He said however that Malaysian police had made “contact” with their Thai counterparts to obtain information on their investigation against former PetroSaudi director Xavier Andre Justo.

Justo was arrested in Thailand on Monday and is being investigated for fabrication of information and blackmail against the oil company which had a joint-venture deal with 1MDB in 2009.

“We are interested in knowing the information on the investigation. I still do not know who were the Malaysians said to be involved, but you see, there were so many channels they can use to approach us.

"As for my department (Commercial Crime Department) we have yet to receive any request," Mortadza told The Malaysian Insider when contacted today.

He said the department had made an effort to "reach out" to their counterparts in Thailand to obtain information on the investigation.

“We have not received anything so far. There are procedures to follow and after all, they just started their investigation,” said Mortadza.

It is understood that Malaysia has made a formal request through Interpol to obtain the information.

The Star Online reported Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that Malaysian individuals were believed to have asked Justo to tamper with certain facts before leaking the information to Sarawak Report.

This was apparently revealed by Justo, a Swiss national, during interrogation by Thai police.

“During interrogation, Justo mentioned the names of several Malaysians who supposedly asked to manipulate facts from the information that was downloaded from PetroSaudi’s communication system," Zahid was quoted  saying yesterday.

He was also quoted saying in a report by The Star Online today that some Malaysians could be extradited to Bangkok if Thai authorities had enough information on them.

“If Thailand authorities have enough information, the probability of us extraditing any Malaysian personalities won’t arise while on the other hand, we will know who these individuals are if the request is made,” he was reported saying.

1MDB is the Finance Ministry's strategic investment firm and has drawn controversy for amassing RM42 billion in debts in just six years of operations.

The firm, whose architect is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has been in the limelight over reports of its dubious deals which include overpaying for power assets and cheap purchases of prime land from the government.

Another of its deals under question is its 2009 joint venture with PetroSaudi, which resulted in allegations of US$700 million being siphoned off to a company said to be controlled by Najib’s associate, businessman Low Taek Jho.

Justo's arrest in Thailand early this week was to facilitate investigations into the leak of emails between PetroSaudi and 1MDB, correspondence which the government now says was tampered with after initial investigations by private cyber security firm Protection Group International (PGI).

Pro-government daily The New Straits Times was the first to break the news about PGI's findings earlier this week after reports of Justo's arrest in Thailand.

It quoted an unnamed PGI expert as saying that the leaked documents had been edited so as to paint a negative picture of 1MDB.

1MDB also issued a statement after saying that some of the leaked emails had been tampered with.

According to The Bangkok Post, Thai police said Justo had been paid RM15 million to leave PetroSaudi and is accused of demanding more money from the company in exchange for his silence on confidential information.

Justo has reportedly denied these allegations. – The Malaysian Insider