Bukit Aman waiting for feedback from US, S’pore on recovery of assets from 1MDB lawyer Loo, says CCID chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman is still awaiting feedback from the US and Singapore authorities regarding the recovery of RM93.2mil in assets belonging to former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) lawyer Jasmine Loo.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf (pic) said the department has written to both authorities to recover Loo’s assets purchased using 1MDB funds.

“We are optimistic of the cooperation from authorities in the US and Singapore. Our main goal is the recovery of 1MDB assets,” he told a press conference after launching the CCID’s Anti-Scam Kapcai Ride programme at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) on Thursday (Oct 12).

It was reported in September that millions in assets bought by Loo using 1MDB money will be returned.

Deputy IGP Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay had said police investigation showed that she had assets in several countries, including the United States, Switzerland, and Singapore.

“We believe these assets were paid for using money syphoned from 1MDB,” he had said.

Ayob Khan said the police were completing the seizure of several other assets linked to her, including two Pablo Picasso paintings and an apartment in London.

“The value of the assets at the time of purchase was listed as RM93,266,291 in 2013, but the value could be much higher now,” he said.

Meanwhile, on another matter, Comm Ramli said the investigation involving former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng is still in the early stages.

“We have started our investigation, but it is still in the early stages,” he said.

It was previously reported that Ng, facing 10 years in prison after being convicted in New York of helping loot billions of dollars from the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, will be returned to Malaysia, where he faces related charges.

He was returned to Malaysia on Oct 8 and arrested by the police on Oct 9.