1MDB in brief
As the scandal-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) faces mounting scrutiny this week, we break down the facts and figures related to the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund
WHAT IS 1MDB?
1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is a state-owned fund established in 2009 by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, 62, for strategic investments to boost the nation's economy.
He has been under fire since last July after allegations that US$700 million (S$950 million) was transferred into his personal accounts.
He was cleared by Malaysian authorities of any wrongdoing when it was said that these funds were a political donation from the Saudi royal family.
He has denied accusations of fraud and corruption linked to the debt-ridden fund.
WHAT IS THE LATEST UPDATE?
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed civil lawsuits to recover over US$1 billion in assets purchased with money believed to be siphoned off 1MDB.
Among those explicitly mentioned in the suit include Mr Najib's stepson Riza Aziz, Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho and two other Abu Dhabi government-linked officials.
There were also 32 references to Malaysian Official 1, which sources told US media is Mr Najib.
In Singapore, assets worth $240 million were seized, with half of that belonging to Mr Low and his immediate family.
This follows ongoing investigations of various 1MDB-related fund flows through Singapore for possible money laundering, securities fraud, cheating, and other offences committed here.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore also found lapses in anti-money laundering controls at DBS Bank, the Singapore branches of UBS and Standard Chartered Bank, Falcon Private Bank Singapore and Raffles Money Change.
KEY FIGURES
$950m
Amount found in Mr Najib's personal accounts, believed to be diverted from 1MDB funds
$14.9b
The amount of debt 1MDB chalked up
$1.36b
The worth of the assets the US Department of Justice wants to seize, believed to be pilfered from 1MDB funds. This is the amount that went through the US banking system.
Some of the assets allegedly include:
• A Bombardier 700 private jet ($47 million)
• Investment in The Wolf Of Wall Street film (at least $136 million)
• Walker Tower Penthouse in New York ($69 million)
• Nympheas Avec Reflets de Hautes Herbes painting by Claude Monet ($78 million)
• Beverly Hills mansion ($53 million)
$4.75b
The total amount laundered from the fund, according to the DOJ.
$240m
The worth of assets seized by Singapore authorities believed to be linked to 1MDB.
*All figures are in Singapore dollars
Low-down on Jho Low
WHO IS JHO LOW?
Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low (above), has been named as one of the key players in this scandal.
Said to be close to the Prime Minister's Najib Razak's family, the Penang-born 34-year-old calls himself 1MDB's "occasional adviser".
The following are the some of the figures believed to be linked to him.
KEY FIGURES
*all figures in Singapore dollars
$120m
The total assets related to Mr Low and his family that were seized by Singapore authorities
$54m
The cost of two apartment units at TwentyOne Angullia Park in Orchard, purchased in 2013
$1.4b
The amount his company Good Star allegedly received from 1MDB
$1.56m
The amount he withdrew to gamble at a Las Vegas casino with several individuals, including Mr Riza Aziz and a lead actor of Hollywood film The Wolf Of Wall Street, believed to be Leonardo DiCaprio
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