1MDB scandal: husband of Malaysian central bank’s former governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz under investigation

Tawfiq Ayman faces money laundering investigation over alleged transfer of funds into a Singapore bank account

The funds reportedly came from accounts linked to fugitive financier Jho Low, who is wanted in the US and Malaysia

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Malaysia’s former central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:16pm, 3 Mar 2021Updated: 9:21pm, 3 Mar 2021

Malaysian police on Wednesday said they were investigating the husband of the country’s former central bank head for allegedly receiving funds linked to 1MDB, a state fund at the centre of a massive corruption scandal.

Malaysian and US authorities have said around US$4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), in a globe-spanning scandal that has implicated the country’s former prime minister, US investment firm Goldman Sachs, and others.

Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, is facing a money laundering investigation over the alleged transfer of 1MDB-linked funds into a bank account he owns in Singapore, Malaysian police said on Wednesday.

“Given that the case investigation involves evidence in Malaysia and other countries, the Royal Malaysian Police is taking further action by seeking mutual legal assistance … to obtain statements from abroad,” commercial crime investigations director Zainuddin Yaacob said in a statement.

A representative for Zeti and Tawfiq did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

epa09020194 Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak during his corruption trial. Photo: EPA

When asked about the police probe, BNM referred to a statement that it disclosed all information received from foreign financial intelligence units to the relevant domestic law enforcement agencies.