[UPDATED] MACC freezes US$10 mil of Rohana’s money, assets

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen around US$10 million (RM41.9 million) in money and assets belonging to former Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Rohana Rozhan.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the figure was around the amount in cash and property that the commission “is looking for” in the current investigation of Rohana.

This came after disgraced former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner claimed in a New York court that Rohana had blackmailed him out of a US$10 million home in London to keep silent on his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

Azam said the case involving Rohana is being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

“MACC has begun investigations, and we have called in Rohana to have her statement recorded, and the action of freezing related money and assets has been made,” Azam said during a press conference today.

“The further action that I can share now is that we are continuing investigations to repatriate the related funds back to our country.”

Azam also said MACC will be calling in other individuals in connection to the case, but he could not reveal their identities to the media.

He added that MACC is seeking the assistance of the Attorney-General’s Chambers to receive information from US authorities.

“It’s an ongoing trial (in New York) so I don’t want to explain much. He (Leissner) is still giving his statements, so it is not proper for me to elaborate on his testimonies there,” Azam said.

“Therefore, we will obtain further information from the US.

Azam said MACC may also recall Rohana to provide statements if there was a need to do so.

On Saturday, Rohana confirmed that she had given her statement to MACC over the allegations, saying she had given them her full cooperation in their investigations.

On February 23, Leissner had revealed to the US justice system his alleged affair with Rohana and how she allegedly blackmailed him for a US$10 million home in the United Kingdom.

Bloomberg had reported that the pair had a relationship between 2003 to 2013, after which Leissner called it off so he could be with his then future wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, a model and celebrity in the US. – The Vibes, March 1, 2022