PUTRAJAYA (March 1): Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki on Tuesday (March 1) said US$10 million assets and money in relation to former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Tim Leissner's dealings with former Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd group chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Rohana Rozhan have been frozen.
"Actions have been taken pertaining to asset and money freeze involved. Around US$10 million have been frozen," he told reporters at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
He added that the anti-graft agency has started investigations on the matter and confirmed that Rohana's statement has been taken. Efforts are being made to return the money to the country, he added.
This was in the aftermath of Leissner's testimony last week before New York Eastern District Court regarding the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Leissner, who testified he had an extramarital affair with Rohana, said she had allegedly blackmailed him into buying her a US$10 million home with money from his 1MDB work.
Azam also said on Tuesday that the US$10 million included matters pertaining to the house and "money involved".
When asked if other individuals will be called to facilitate MACC investigations, he answered in the affirmative but said he could not share the names at this point in time. He also did not rule out the possibility of calling Rohana in again.
"We will also need the Attorney General's Chambers' cooperation to get some testimonies from the US," he said.
When asked if Leissner could potentially be called to assist in investigations here, Azam said that as the trial is still ongoing in New York, it is best not to comment further.
The investigations were being carried out under the purview of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
Last Friday, in a brief statement issued through her lawyers, Rohana said she had given her full cooperation with the agency's investigation.
According to a Bloomberg report, Leissner bought her the said home in London in 2013, after she threatened to expose his involvement with 1MDB.
“Ms Rozhan was very upset that I was ending our relationship to be with my future wife Kimora,” Leissner testified, referring to his wife Kimora Lee Simmons.
He added: “If I didn’t buy her a house, she would tell the authorities about my involvement in the 1MDB scandal. She was threatening to expose me. At the time in 2013, I was very fearful of that.”
Leissner is testifying as the US government’s star witness in the bribery case against his former subordinate Roger Ng Cho Hwa.
Ng is the only Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker to go to trial in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal.
Ng was charged in May 2019 for conspiring to launder money and bribing government officials through bond offerings that Goldman Sachs handled. Three charges are levelled against him for alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If found guilty, he faces up to 30 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.
Leissner was charged under similar charges but pleaded guilty in August 2018 and agreed to cooperate. He was ordered to forfeit US$44 million (RM184.38 million).
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