SINGAPORE (Oct 28): Trial of former BSI banker Yeo Jiawei, connected to the 1MDB scandal, will begin next Monday on Oct 31.

Yeo, 33, faces a total of 11 charges ranging from tampering with witnesses to money laundering. For example, he was alleged to have tried to ask his former colleagues to give false statements when investigators have already started their probe. Yeo is also accused of siphoning money for his own personal gain via a complicated web of cross border accounts.

Yeo was first charged back in April 16. Subsequent charges were then added as investigators uncovered more evidence. He is denied bail and has been held in remand since then.

Yeo’s trial is scheduled from Oct 31 till Nov 3, and then, from Nov 7 till Nov 11, with District Judge Ng Peng Hong presiding. Yeo is represented by a team of lawyers from Harry Elias Partnership LLP, led by the firm’s founder Harry Elias himself, as well as the firm’s managing partner Philip Fong.

If found guilty of money laundering, Yeo could be put behind bars for up to 10 years. Obstructing investigations by tampering with witness could land him in jail for up to seven years.

A second individual connected to 1MDB, Kelvin Ang, has also been charged. Ang, said to be a broker with Maybank Kim Eng, is alleged to have paid a research analyst to produce a favourable valuation report on certain 1MDB assets. Ang’s pre-trial conference will be held on Nov 17.

Besides Yeo, two other former BSI employees are also facing charges. On Oct 10, Yak Yew Chee and Yvonne Seah, were charged with carrying out suspicious money transfers for their client Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

Yak and Seah are also accused of forging letters in the name of BSI, attesting to Low’s good standing as client. Yak is represented by Lee Teck Leng of Lee Chambers LLC while Seah is represented by Peter Cuthbert Low of Peter Low LLC. Both Yak and Seah are out on bail.

Three other former BSI employees are under investigations. They are Hans Peter Brunner, former CEO of the BSI Singapore branch, Raj Sriram, former deputy CEO and Kevin Michael Swampillai, head of wealth management services. No word yet on whether they will face charges.

BSI isn’t the only financial institution rapped for its involvement in 1MDB. The Monetary Authority of Singapore ordered the Singapore branch of the bank shut on May 24. On Oct 11, MAS announced that the Singapore branch of Falcon Private Bank to close as well. Jens Sturzenegger, Falcon Private Bank’s Singapore branch manager, had been arrested by the Commercial Affairs Department on Oct 5, MAS said.