FORMER Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz’s spouse, Datuk Tawfiq Ayman dismissed allegations that he had received bribes in the regards to the scandal plagued 1Malaysia Development Board (1MDB) case.
“I am shocked with the statements made against me by Tim Leissner, which had been reported in the media.
“I do not know Tim Leissner or Roger Ng and neither have I met, nor have ever communicated with either of them.
“I wish to categorically state that throughout my entire life, I have never received any bribes from anyone.
“In view of the ongoing proceedings in New York, I have been advised not to make any further comments as it may amount to sub judice.
“We will be seeking legal advice on the next course of action to be taken on the statements made against me,” Malaysiakini reported Tawfiq as saying.
Yesterday, during ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng trial in the 1MDB case in the US, Leissner mentioned graft involving a former Bank Negara governor’s husband.
However; Leissner acknowledged that he could not independently verify whether a bribe was indeed paid.
According to court transcripts of Ng’s trial, Leissner said this when prosecutors queried his dealings with the PetroSaudi-1MDB joint venture project.
He mentioned that he had heard through Ng – Leissner’s subordinate at the time – that 1MDB had invested US$1 bil (RM4 bil) into the deal.
“You have to understand in 2009, Malaysia still had capital controls in place, which would require an investment of that size to be approved by BNM in terms of the money leaving the country.
“They would have to approve a billion dollars leaving Malaysia basically. And what Roger (Ng) reported back to me was that he had heard that the money had left overnight, the country.
“A billion dollars was wired overnight to Malaysia to the joint venture and it had been done because the husband of the then governor Zeti (Akhtar Aziz) at Bank Negara had received a bribe to make that happen,” Leissner told the court.
“So, overnight that money was transferred, which was unprecedented at that time. No approval was obtained that quickly with BNM,” he quipped.
Due diligence was done
Earlier today, Bernama reported BNM responding to Leissner claims as saying that all investments abroad by resident entities are subject to the requirements under the Exchange Control Act (ECA) 1953 that was in force prior to 2013, which has since been replaced by the Financial Services Act (FSA) 2013.
“These requirements and criteria governing such investments are transparent and published on BNM’s website.
“All submissions made by 1MDB, including the said application, were subject to the same approval criteria and internal governance process that apply to any submission by other entities to BNM,” the central bank was reported as saying.
It is to note that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is currently investigating Tawfiq and former minister in the prime minister’s department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop over their ties to 1MDB case. – Feb 24, 2022
