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New York

Two Singapore-based bankers charged over 1MDB scandal

Malaysian state fund allegedly lined pockets of Park Lane investor Jho Low

The Park Lane Hotel
The Park Lane Hotel

Singapore prosecutors on Monday charged two bankers for helping misappropriate billions in from Malaysian state development fund 1MDB. The bankers, Yak Yew Chee and Yvonne Seah, are accused of forgery and failing to report suspicious transactions.

U.S. prosecutors are currently investigating Malaysian prime Najib Razak and his associates, including financier Jho Low, on suspicions that they used the fund to funnel billions in public money into their own pockets. ow allegedly used 1MDB funds to buy an 85 percent stake in The Park Lane Hotel alongside developer Steve Witkoff. Earlier this year, the U.S. government seized his stake, effectively freezing plans to build a condo tower on the site until Low’s stake is auctioned off.

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Yvonne Seah worked as a private banker at Swiss bank SBI, where 1MDB had accounts. Yak Yew Chee was the relationship manager for those accounts, the Wall Street Journal reported. If found guilty of forgery, the two could face prison sentences of up to four years.

According to the Journal, Yak earned fame within the bank for his ability to bring in large clients. He earned $27 million in salary and bonuses between 2011 and 2014.

In its October issue, The Real Deal examined how dirty money is funneled into New York City commercial real estate projects. [WSJ] — Konrad Putzier

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Taek Jho Low