Malaysia anti-graft agency says it worked with FBI on 1MDB probe

[SINGAPORE] Malaysia's anti-corruption agency said it worked with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to probe an unidentified businessman who is said to have defrauded state investment company, 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

The cooperation was focused on the possibility of embezzlement and money-laundering, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement Friday. It took place last year when the Malaysian agency was conducting its own investigation, and they're not currently working together, a spokesman said by phone.

1Malaysia Development Bhd, or 1MDB, has been the focus of multiple probes in Malaysia and a comprehensive review by the country's attorney general found no crime was committed, the Prime Minister's office said Thursday. 1MDB remains the subject of an investigation by Malaysian police, it said.

More than US$3.5 billion was misappropriated from the fund, and about US$1 billion was laundered through the US banking system, the US Justice Department said Wednesday. The alleged scheme of international money laundering and misappropriation stretched from 2009 to 2015, it said.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that the country has yet to receive any request from the US to obtain any information or evidence for the filing of the case.

For more coverage of the 1MDB scandal: bt.sg/1MDB

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