(July 24): Thai authorities have again rejected a request by Malaysian police to question former PetroSaudi International (PSI) director Xavier Andre Justo over claims that he offered to sell classified information related to troubled 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), Bangkok Post reports.

Instead, Thailand's national police chief Somyot Poompunmuang, saying Justo is not a Malaysian, advised his counterpart Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to use proper channels, including the Foreign Ministry.

Thailand had earlier rejected a similar request by Bukit Aman on July 16.

Bangkok Post also reported that Malaysian diplomats and police had met Somyot yesterday.

The report said that in the meeting, diplomats and police from the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok met Somyot and asked if they could meet and record a statement from Justo.

It was earlier reported that Khalid was part of the Malaysia delegation.

Justo's remand is till August 15.

Thai police arrested Justo on June 22 on charges of blackmailing PSI, an international company based in Saudi Arabia linked to a controversy surrounding 1MDB.

Khalid said police would call all those who met Justo in Singapore to give their statements, following revelation by Thai police that the Swiss national had met a "very important" Malaysian opposition leader in the island republic.

Khalid also said police had identified the opposition leader who allegedly met Justo but did not name him.

Criticism has been mounting over 1MDB which has chalked  up debts of up to RM42 billion within a six-year period.

Scrutiny grew more intense after whistleblower site Sarawak Report's recent exposes, which piled pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and prompted opposition politicians, former and current Umno leaders and anti-graft bodies to demand a thorough investigation into the fund. – The Malaysian Insider