Malaysia 1MDB scandal: feng shui master warned ex-Goldman banker Leissner about ‘bad karma’ before fraud came to light
- Hwee Bin Lim told the jurors that she and her husband Roger Ng arranged for feng shui readings with a master for his boss Tim Leissner in 2015 and 2016
- Lim testified in Ng’s defence as he stands charged with conspiracy in the looting of the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund
Hwee Bin Lim, the wife of ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng, was testifying for her husband on Tuesday as he stands charged with conspiracy in the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Lim told the jurors that she and Ng arranged for feng shui readings with a “Master Pang” for Ng’s boss, Tim Leissner, in 2015 and 2016.
But on Tuesday, Lim told the federal panel in Brooklyn, New York, that the female in question was Leissner’s daughter. She said the meeting was just to discuss the reading.
Ex-Goldman banker bought diamonds worth US$300,000 with 1MDB money
Feng shui is a common practice in Asia used to read favourable and unfavourable signs and energy flows. Lim told the jury she and her husband consulted the master annually ahead of the Lunar New Year and whenever they were looking for a new home or office.
“Don’t cause bad karma,” Lim said Master Pang warned Leissner. “Whatever bad is coming is coming out of your mouth.”
Lim also said she has no documentation proving that US$35 million allegedly paid to Ng as an illegal kickback was actually a return on a legitimate investment.
She testified on Monday in his defence that she invested her parents’ money in businesses controlled by Leissner’s then-wife, Judy Chan Leissner.
But under questioning on Tuesday from a federal prosecutor, Lim said she had no records showing that a payment to her offshore account was for an investment she’d made earlier with Chan Leissner in China.
When Assistant US Attorney Alixandra Smith asked why not, Lim testified she no longer has the single letter she received from Chan Leissner acknowledging receipt of the funds.
“When you invest in China, there’s no point for documents,” Lim said. “Even if I have a document, where do I go to enforce it?”
Pressed further by Smith about how the Lim family’s funds were transferred to Chan Leissner, Lim said, “Judy can explain.” Lim said she and her brother, who are both lawyers, didn’t ask questions about the investment and that Chan Leissner never told her exactly how much it was worth.