1MDB Civil Forfeiture Complaint
1MDB Civil Forfeiture Complaint
1MDB Civil Forfeiture Complaint
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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No. CV 16-5371
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR
FORFEITURE
IN REM
18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(A) & (C)
[F.B.I.]
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The United States of America brings this complaint against the above-captioned
asset and alleges as follows:
PERSONS AND ENTITIES
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1.
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2.
The defendant in this action is Real Property Located in New York, New
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The Defendant Asset is titled in the name of Park Laurel Acquisition LLC.
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The persons and entities whose interests may be affected by this action are listed in
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Attachment A.
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4.
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related actions seeking the civil forfeiture of the following assets (collectively, the
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SUBJECT ASSETS):
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a.
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in the motion picture The Wolf of Wall Street belonging to Red Granite Pictures, a
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film production company located at 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 8th floor, Los Angeles,
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California 90024, including copyright and intellectual property rights, as well as the
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right to collect and receive any profits, royalties, and proceeds of distribution owned by
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or owed to Red Granite Pictures or its affiliates and/or assigns in connection with its
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role in producing The Wolf of Wall Street (hereinafter, the WOLF OF WALL
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STREET RIGHTS);
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b.
property commonly known as 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, California 90210,
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the LERMITAGE PROPERTY, including but not limited to all chattels and intangible
any and all funds in accounts owned, held or maintained at financial institutions by
LBH Real Estate, or for the benefit of LBH Real Estate or the LERMITAGE
PROPERTY, and all leases, rents, and profits derived from said business. Collectively
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located in Beverly Hills, California1 owned by 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH), LLC
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attachments thereon, as well as all leases, rents, and profits derived therefrom.
e.
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5000 aircraft bearing manufacturer serial number 9265 and registration number
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N689WM, with two Rolls Royce engines bearing manufacturers serial numbers 12487
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attachments thereon, all aircraft logbooks, and all leases, rents, and profits derived
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therefrom.
f.
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property located in New York, New York owned by 80 Columbus Circle (NYC) LLC
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attachments thereon, as well as all leases, rents, and profits derived therefrom. The
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TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE includes all right and title to the real property
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commonly known as SU-11, New York, New York (TIME WARNER STORAGE
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Pursuant to L.R. 5.2-1, residential addresses are listed by the city and state only.
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g.
ORIOLE MANSION: All right and title to the real property located
in Los Angeles, California owned by Oriole Drive (LA) LLC (ORIOLE MANSION),
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located in New York, New York owned by 118 Greene Street (NYC) LLC (GREENE
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intellectual property rights, as well as the right to collect and receive any profits,
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royalties, and proceeds of distribution owned by or owed to JW Nile (BVI), Ltd.; JCL
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Media (EMI Publishing Ltd.); and/or Jynwel Capital Ltd., relating to EMI Music
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Publishing Group North America Holdings, Inc. and D.H. Publishing L.P.
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j.
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Symphony CP Investments Holdings LLC, including but not limited to any interest in
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the real property and appurtenances located at 36 Central Park South, New York, New
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York, 10019, known as the Park Lane Hotel, any right to collect and receive any profits
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and proceeds therefrom, and any interest derived from the proceeds invested in
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Investments Holdings.
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k.
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property located in New York, New York owned by 212 West 18th Street LLC
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attachments thereon, as well as all leases, rents, and profits derived therefrom.
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l.
property located in Beverly Hills, California, owned by Laurel Beverly Hills Holdings,
improvements, and attachments thereon, as well as all leases, rents, and profits derived
therefrom.
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located in Beverly Hills, California owned by 1169 Hillcrest Road LLC (HILLCREST
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located in London, United Kingdom (U.K.), SW1W 0JR, owned by Qentas Holdings
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and attachments thereon, as well as all leases, rents, and profits derived therefrom.
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QENTAS TOWNHOUSE includes all right, title, and interest in the leasehold for
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Parking Space 2 at the QENTAS TOWNHOUSE, as well as all sub-leases, rents, and
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profits derived therefrom. According to a search of the Land Registry conducted by the
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U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA), title to QENTAS TOWNHOUSE is held in the
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name of Qentas Holdings Limited, and there are no recorded liens against the property.
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5.
property located in the United States and abroad, including in the United Kingdom and
from violations of U.S. law, and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(A) on the ground that
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projects for the economic benefit of Malaysia and its people, primarily relying on the
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issuance of various debt securities to fund these projects. However, over the course of
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fraudulently divert billions of dollars from 1MDB through various means, including by
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the scheme, and thereafter, to launder the proceeds of that criminal conduct, including in
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and through U.S. financial institutions. The funds diverted from 1MDB were used for
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the personal benefit of the co-conspirators and their relatives and associates, including to
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purchase luxury real estate in the United States, pay gambling expenses at Las Vegas
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casinos, acquire more than $200 million in artwork, invest in a major New York real
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estate development project, and fund the production of major Hollywood films. 1MDB
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7.
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The Good Star Phase: The fraudulent diversion of funds from 1MDB
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began in approximately September 2009, soon after 1MDBs creation. Between 2009
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and 2011, under the pretense of investing in a joint venture between 1MDB and
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company, officials of 1MDB and others arranged for the fraudulent transfer of more than
$1 billion from 1MDB to a Swiss bank account held in the name of Good Star Limited
(Good Star Account). Officials at 1MDB caused this diversion of funds by, among
other things, providing false information to banks about the ownership of the Good Star
Account. Contrary to representations made by 1MDB officials, the Good Star Account
was beneficially owned not by PetroSaudi or the joint venture, but by LOW Taek Jho,
a/k/a Jho Low (LOW), a Malaysian national who had no formal position with 1MDB
but was involved in its creation. LOW laundered more than $400 million of the funds
misappropriated from 1MDB through the Good Star Account into the United States, after
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which these funds were used for the personal gratification of LOW and his associates.3
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1MDB raised through two separate bond offerings arranged and underwritten by
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Goldman Sachs International (Goldman). The bonds were guaranteed by both 1MDB
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(U.A.E.).4 Beginning almost immediately after 1MDB received the proceeds of each
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of these two bond issues, 1MDB officials caused a substantial portion of the proceeds
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approximately $1.367 billion, a sum equivalent to more than forty percent of the total net
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Aabar-BVI was created and named to give the impression that it was
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Abu Dhabi. In reality, Aabar-BVI has no genuine affiliation with Aabar or IPIC, and the
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All amounts referenced in dollars ($) are denominated in U.S. dollars and all
dates, times, and monetary amounts are approximate.
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Swiss bank account belonging to Aabar-BVI (Aabar-BVI Swiss Account) was used to
siphon off proceeds of the 2012 bond sales for the personal benefit of officials at IPIC,
Aabar, and 1MDB and their associates. Funds diverted through the Aabar-BVI Swiss
Account were transferred to, among other places, a Singapore bank account controlled
by TAN Kim Loong, a/k/a Eric Tan (TAN), an associate of LOW. Those funds were
thereafter distributed for the personal benefit of various individuals, including officials at
1MDB, IPIC, or Aabar, rather than for the benefit of 1MDB, IPIC, or Aabar.
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officials, diverted more than $1.26 billion out of a total of $3 billion in principal that
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1MDB raised through a third bond offering arranged by Goldman in March 2013. The
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proceeds of this bond offering were to be used by 1MDB to fund a joint venture with
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Aabar known as the Abu Dhabi Malaysia Investment Company (ADMIC). However,
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beginning days after the bond sale, a significant portion of the proceeds was instead
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Account), for which TAN was the recorded beneficial owner. Although the Tanore
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was an authorized signatory on the account. 1MDB funds transferred into the Tanore
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Account were used for the personal benefit of LOW and his associates, including
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funds unlawfully diverted from 1MDB, or funds traceable thereto. As a result, the
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and/or 1961(1).
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and (C).
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and 1355.
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This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1345
Venue lies in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1355(b)(1)(A) and
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1355(b)(2) because acts and omissions giving rise to the forfeiture took place in the
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Malaysian Ministry of Finance. It was formed in 2009 when the Malaysian government
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1MDBs governance structure has been comprised of a senior leadership team, a Board
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1MDB PetroSaudi, Ltd. was a purported joint venture between 1MDB and
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PetroSaudi formed in or around September 2009 for the stated purpose of exploiting
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Argentina.
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the British Virgin Islands in March 2012 that was purported to be owned by IPIC and
Aabar. Aabar-BVI maintained a bank account at BSI Bank in Switzerland. IPIC and
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joint venture between 1MDB and Aabar that was created in or around March 2013 for
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the stated purpose of promoting the growth and development of Malaysia and Abu
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Dhabi.
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LOW Taek Jho, a/k/a/ Jho Low (LOW) is a Malaysian national who
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advised on the creation of TIA, 1MDBs predecessor. LOW has never held a formal
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position at 1MDB, and he has publicly denied any involvement with 1MDB after its
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inception.
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Director of 1MDB from the time of its creation until approximately March 2011. During
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this time, 1MDB OFFICER 1 was a public official as that term is used in 18 U.S.C.
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Executive Officer (CEO) between at least 2009 and 2013. During this time, 1MDB
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and a public servant as that term is used in Section 21 of the Malaysian Penal Code.
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Counsel and Executive Director of Group Strategy during, at a minimum, 2012 and
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2013. 1MDB OFFICER 3 was a main point of contact between 1MDB and Goldman in
connection with the three Goldman-underwritten bond offerings in 2012 and 2013.
During this time, 1MDB OFFICER 3 was a public official as that term is used in 18
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government who also held a position of authority with 1MDB. During all times relevant
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of LOW. He was the stated beneficial owner of several bank accounts into which
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Managing Director of IPIC from 2007 to 2015 and the Chairman of Aabar in at least
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2012 and 2013. During this time, he was a public official as that term is used in 18
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United Arab Emirates Law, Federal Law No (3) Of 1989 On Issuance Of The Penal
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citizen, was the CEO of Aabar from 2010 to 2015. He was also a director of Aabar-BVI.
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over the course of several years. The misappropriated funds were then used to purchase
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the Defendant Asset, as well as to fund the co-conspirators lavish lifestyles, including
purchases of artwork and jewelry, the acquisition of luxury real estate, the payment of
gambling expenses, and the hiring of musicians and celebrities to attend parties. The use
of the diverted 1MDB funds for the personal benefit of the co-conspirators and their
associates was not consistent with the purposes for which 1MDB raised the funds, and
neither 1MDB nor the government of Malaysia realized any returns on these purchases
and expenditures.
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I.
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the Malaysian municipality of Terengganu, assisted by Goldman, formed TIA with the
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stated purpose of investing and managing that municipalitys public funds. To raise
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capital for its operations, TIA issued and sold Islamic medium term notes (IMTNs), a
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form of debt security, valued at 5 billion Malaysian ringgit (MYR). By 2009 conversion
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rates, this amounted to approximately $1,425,680,000. The IMTNs were 30-year notes
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with a yield of approximately 5.75 percent, issued with the assistance of AmBank in
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Malaysia.
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LOW Taek Jho, a/k/a Jho LOW (LOW), a Malaysian national, served as
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involved with TIA confirm that LOW was involved in the creation of TIA. For example,
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on or about January 14, 2009, 1MDB OFFICER 1, who served as TIAs Executive
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Director of Business Development and later became the Executive Director of 1MDB,
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sent an email to, among others, LOW and Goldman employees with the subject line Re:
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Except where a distinction is made, all references to 1MDB may refer to TIA
before it was renamed 1MDB.
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Project TIARA. In this email, 1MDB OFFICER 1 stated, referring to LOW: I think it
is best to get Jho involve[d] at every stage. Jho will revert on the suitability of dates n
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and 1MDB OFFICER 1 with the subject line Re Press Answer URGENT. In the
Bro, here is outline of the issues I would like to discuss with the Terengganu
Investment Authority. In essence the disquiet surrounding the plan is that the
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concern?
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There is also the issue of transparency and will the money go towards
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or around July 2009, the Malaysian Ministry of Finance assumed control of TIA and the
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more than $1 billion in IMTNs issued by TIA. In September 2009, TIAs name was
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investment. The Malaysian government exercised a high degree of control over 1MDB
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authority with 1MDB. MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1 had the authority to approve all
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appointments to, and removals from, 1MDBs Board of Directors and 1MDBs Senior
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investments, that were likely to affect a guarantee given by the government of Malaysia
for the benefit of 1MDB or any policy of the Malaysian government, required, the
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II.
A.
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Arabia-based oil services company, to form a joint venture called 1MDB PetroSaudi Ltd.
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Venture was to exploit certain energy concession rights in Turkmenistan and Argentina
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that PetroSaudi purported to own. Under the terms of the agreement, (a) 1MDB agreed
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to invest $1 billion in cash in the Joint Venture in exchange for a forty percent (40%)
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equity interest in the Joint Venture, and (b) PetroSaudi agreed to give the Joint Venture
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in exchange for a sixty percent (60%) equity interest in the Joint Venture. PetroSaudis
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Bank, approved the transfer of $1 billion to the Joint Venture. However, as set forth in
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greater detail in the sections that follow, LOW and his associates caused $700 million of
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the $1 billion that was to be invested in the Joint Venture to be sent to an account at RBS
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Coutts Bank in Zurich (RBS Coutts) held in the name of Good Star Limited (Good
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Star Account).
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funds were wired at the direction of 1MDB officials to the Good Star Account
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purportedly in connection with a financing agreement executed between 1MDB and the
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1MDB-Petrosaudi JV.
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Malaysia, that Good Star was a wholly-owned subsidiary of PetroSaudi, this was not
true. According to banking records, Good Star was a company controlled by LOW, and
LOW was also the Good Star Accounts beneficial owner and sole authorized signatory.
At the time, LOW was a 29-year-old with no official position with 1MDB or PetroSaudi.
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B.
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RBS Coutts bank account records indicate that Good Star Limited was
formed in the Seychelles on or about May 18, 2009.6 The sole director of Good Star is
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listed as Smart Power, of which LOW is the sole director. LOW is listed on the bank
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records as Good Stars secretary. Smart Powers ownership equity in Good Star consists
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of a single bearer share of company stock. That single bearer share was issued to LOW
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on or about June 2, 2009, seven days before he opened the Good Star Account. In
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indicates that the companys books, records, and minutes would be maintained at 50
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office is also designated as the location where all correspondence to Good Star should
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Place in Singapore.
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On or about June 9, 2009, LOW opened the Good Star Account at an RBS
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LOW also completed a form entitled Establishment of the Beneficial Owners Identity,
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which identified LOW as the sole beneficial owner of the Good Star Account. LOW
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Seychelles is a sovereign country located in the Indian Ocean off of East Africa.
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also completed a form entitled Resolutions, in which LOW was named as the sole
authorized signatory on the Good Star Account. This form also bears LOWs signature.
Included in the account opening records was a copy of a page from LOWs Malaysian
C.
SEPTEMBER 2009
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met at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 1MDB Board minutes
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of that meeting provide that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the anticipated
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creation of the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV. The following individuals were present: (i)
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1MDB OFFICER 1, (ii) the CEO of 1MDB (1MDB OFFICER 2), (iii) the Chairman
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of the 1MDB Board, (iv) 1MDBs Director of Investments, and (v) three 1MDB
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Directors.
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The Board minutes further indicate that 1MDB OFFICERS 1 and 2 offered
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a Position Paper during the September 18, 2009 meeting. The Position Paper, signed by
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1MDB OFFICERS 1 and 2, included a formal request that the 1MDB Board authorize
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1MDB to invest US$1 bln into the [1MDB-PetroSaudi JV] upon signing of the [1MDB-
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JV].
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The Board minutes state further that, on or about September 18, 2009, the
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1MDB Board authorized 1MDB to enter into negotiations with PetroSaudi for the
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purpose of creating the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV. However, the 1MDB Board also resolved
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that 1MDBs management should report back to the Board regarding some of the issues
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raised by the Board, including whether (i) an expert selected by 1MDB could be used to
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assess the value of PetroSaudis assets and (ii) PetroSaudi could also be required to
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A special meeting of the 1MDB Board was held on September 26, 2009,
which was attended by 1MDB OFFICERS 1 and 2 and members of the Board.
LOW also attended this meeting. Just prior to the meeting, LOW spoke by telephone
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According to the 1MDB Board minutes of the September 26, 2009 meeting,
transfer $1 billion from 1MDB through a foreign exchange transaction with Deutsche
Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (Deutsche Bank), into the bank account of [the 1MDB-
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PetroSaudi JV] for the purpose of subscribing of 1 billion ordinary shares in [the 1MDB-
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PetroSaudi JV]. The resolution was signed by the Chairman of the 1MDB Board and
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1MDB OFFICER 2.
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The Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between 1MDB and PetroSaudi was
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executed on or about September 28, 2009. Under the terms of the JVA, 1MDB agreed to
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invest $1 billion into the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV in exchange for one billion equity shares,
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$2.7 billion, purportedly consisting of energy interests in the Turkmenistan sector of the
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Caspian Sea and the Argentinean provinces of Rio Negro and Chubut. 1MDB
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OFFICER 2 signed the JVA on behalf of 1MDB, and the CEO and co-founder of
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made in immediately available cleared funds to a bank account in the name of, and
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in Singapore. The JVA required that 1MDB and PSI officials be joint signatories on the
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BSI Bank account into which 1MDBs contribution to the Joint Venture was to be
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deposited. The JVA expressly required that, upon 1MDBs contribution of $1 billion,
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the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV was to deliver to 1MDB evidence, in the name of BSI Bank,
establishing that 1MDB was a joint beneficial owner of the account at BSI Bank into
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The JVA also required that by September 30, 2009 (within two days of the
According to the JVA, PetroSaudi agreed to make this loan to the Joint Venture just
three days prior to execution of the JVA, that is, on or about September 25, 2009.
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the Joint Venture, PetroSaudi made no such loan, based on the following facts and
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a.
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purportedly agreed to make the loan, which was due to be repaid on or about September
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b.
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(Suisse), into which 1MDB ultimately transferred $300 million, was not opened until
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c.
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within the Malaysian Parliament responsible for examining the accounts of public
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1MDB and its financial activities, and it produced a public and non-public report of its
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the PACs website, the auditors tasked by the PAC to examine 1MDBs activities were
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unable to validate documents related to PetroSaudis purported $700 million loan to the
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e.
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PetroSaudi JV, the Position Paper that was presented to the 1MDB Board did not
disclose the existence of any loan, or any anticipated loan, from PetroSaudi to the Joint
Venture. Nor did the Position Paper disclose the need for 1MDB to direct any portion of
its $1 billion investment in the Joint Venture to PetroSaudi (rather than the Joint
Venture) in repayment of a loan. Indeed, at the time that the 1MDB Board authorized
the $1 billion investment in the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV on September 26, 2009, the Board
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was not told that any portion of the $1 billion investment in 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV would
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be transferred to any entity other than the Joint Venture. Even though Article 75 of
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1MDBs Articles of Association requires that 1MDBs Board approve all investment
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decisions, the Board did not approve the use of 1MDBs investment in the Joint Venture
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to repay PetroSaudi for a loan, let alone to pay an entity unaffiliated with PetroSaudi.
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58.
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[PSI] and [1MDB] in US $2.5 billion joint-venture partnership, opens new door to FDIs
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a vehicle for investments from the Middle East into the region, thereby
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giving Malaysia the edge in drawing investments from the cash- and
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resource-rich region.
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D.
ACCOUNT
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59.
delivered BY HAND to Deutsche Bank in Malaysia instructing the Bank to transfer (i)
$300 million to an account at J.P. Morgan (Suisse), S.A. in Switzerland (the $300
million wire transfer) and (ii) $700 million to an account at RBS Coutts in Switzerland
(the $700 million wire transfer). The instructions specified the account numbers for
the two destination accounts but did not identify account names or beneficiaries.
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J.P. Morgan Chase Bank (J.P. Morgan) records show that the Swiss J.P.
Morgan account referenced in the instructions to Deutsche Bank (that is, the account that
was to receive the $300 million wire transfer) belonged to an account held in the name of
the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV (hereinafter, the J.P. Morgan JV Account).
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RBS Coutts records show that the RBS Coutts account referenced in the
instructions to Deutsche Bank (that is, the account that was to receive the $700 million
wire transfer) was the Good Star Account.
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represented to a Deutsche Bank employee (the Deutsche Bank Employee), that the
beneficiar[y] of the $300 million wire transfer was the Joint Venture and the
beneficiar[y] of the $700 million wire was PetroSaudi. In that same email, the 1MDB
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official indicated to Deutsche Bank that, [i]n order to avoid any unforeseen
circumstance, we are not incorporating the name of the beneficiary in our instruction
65.
Under Malaysian law, 1MDB was required to obtain approval from Bank
Negara, Malaysias Central Bank, before completing either of the ordered wire transfers.
On or about September 30, 2009, at approximately 2:05 p.m., the Acting Deputy
via facsimile to 1MDB OFFICER 1 (the Bank Negara Letter). In this letter, Bank
Negara acknowledged that the funds for the approved investment will be remitted to
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PetroJVs account maintained with J.P. Morgan SA and RBS Coutts Bank Ltd. The
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Later that same day, 1MDB OFFICER 1 provided a copy of the Bank
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Negara Letter to Deutsche Bank, prior to Deutsche Banks initiation of the $700 million
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wire transfer.
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OFFICER 1 had a telephone conversation regarding the requested $700 million wire
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transfer. During this conversation, 1MDB OFFICER 1 falsely represented that the
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beneficiary of the $700 million wire was PetroSaudi. In truth, the beneficiary of the wire
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1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
Um-hum . . .
1MDB OFFICER 1
Uh. You want to, hang on, this one ___. The ___ is
asking me to go and send it now.
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Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
Good.
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
But
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
Yeah.
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
Yeah.
1MDB OFFICER 1
____ will [blame] them [___], the deal goes off, you
know.
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Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
1MDB OFFICER 1
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Deutsche Bank
Employee
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1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
I understand that. Uh
Deutsche Bank
Employee
1MDB OFFICER 1
Actually
Deutsche Bank
Employee
Ah
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Employee
Oh, I see.
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Employee
4
5
6
7
8
9
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
23
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Employee
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Employee
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Employee
1MDB OFFICER 1
Deutsche Bank
Employee
Yeah.
1MDB OFFICER 1
--the message
1
2
3
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
****
68.
Supervisor had a telephone conversation with a Bank Negara official (Bank Negara
Official). Their conversation included the following exchange:
22
23
24
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
25
26
27
28
24
Um-hum, um-hum
Deutsche Bank
Supervisor
4
5
6
7
8
9
69.
When the Bank Negara Official used the words original intention, he/she
meant the $1 billion in funds that were meant to be sent to the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV.
70.
10
SWIFT payment order requesting that $700 million be credited to an account at RBS
11
Coutts.7 The SWIFT message did not identify the owner of the RBS Coutts account, but
12
the account number listed on the SWIFT as the recipient of the $700 million wire
13
14
71.
15
transmitted a second SWIFT payment order to J.P. Morgan (Suisse) requesting that $300
16
million be credited to an account at J.P. Morgan (Suisse). As with the other SWIFT
17
message, the SWIFT message for the $300 million wire transfer did not identify the
18
owner of the beneficiary account. The account number listed in the SWIFT for the $300
19
million wire transfer matched the number for the J.P. Morgan JV Account.
20
72.
21
email to the Deutsche Bank Employee seeking email confirmation from 1MDB of the
22
names of the beneficiaries to both payments. The compliance officer also advised the
23
Deutsche Bank Employee that Bank Negara approved the wire transfers for the purpose
24
of allowing 1MDB to acquire an equity interest in the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV. The email
25
26
27
28
indicates the compliance officers belief that the $700 million wire transfer was being
73.
Deutsche Bank employees stating: The 3rd party payment by 1MDB to [the 1MDB-
PetroSaudi JV] and [PetroSaudi] is approved from my end. This email indicated the
Deutsche Bank Employees similar belief that the $700 million wire transfer was being
sent to PetroSaudi.
8
9
74.
department emailed a Deutsche Bank employee, stating: Please urgently confirm the
10
full name of the final beneficiary of the funds per e-mail and authenticated swift (see
11
details below) in order for us to apply the funds. (Emphasis in original). In the email,
12
the RBS Coutts employee further explained that [w]e are not in a position to credit the
13
funds without full beneficiary details (full name, address, account no.).
14
75.
15
16
confirmation on the beneficiarys name in order to complete their internal risk mitigating
17
processes as no name was[.] We will await your instructions on whether to reveal the
18
19
76.
20
Deutsche Bank Employee and 1MDB OFFICER 1 with authorization to disclose to RBS
21
Coutts that the beneficiary of the $700 million wire was Good Star. However, 1MDB
22
OFFICER 2 misrepresented the nature of the relationship between Good Star and
23
PetroSaudi. Specifically, 1MDB OFFICER 2 stated: This payment was for beneficiary
24
Good Star Limited in their SWIFT. Good Star is owned 100% by PetroSaudi
25
International Limited. In reality, however, Good Stars sole shareholder and the
26
signatory on its account was LOW not PetroSaudi. Approximately 30 minutes later,
27
1MDB OFFICER 2 emailed the Deutsche Bank Employee and provided Good Stars
28
26
Seychelles.
77.
Coutts a revised SWIFT instruction identifying Good Star Limited as the beneficiary
of the $700 million wire transfer, located at P.O. Box 1239, Offshore Incorporation,
78.
through a regulatory filing that the purpose of the $700 million wire transfer was for an
10
79.
J.P. Morgan Chase bank records confirm that on or about September 30,
11
2009, the Good Star Account received the $700 million wire transfer from Deutsche
12
Bank. A U.S. correspondent bank account at J.P. Morgan processed the $700 million
13
14
80.
15
stated above, the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV maintained an account at J.P. Morgan, and that
16
account received only $300 million of the total $1 billion that was to be invested in the
17
Joint Venture.
18
19
E.
20
21
81.
Even after the $700 million wire transfer was made into the Good Star
22
23
the 1MDB Board relating to the true identity of the beneficiary of the $700 million wire
24
transfer.
25
82.
26
individuals present at the meeting included 1MDB OFFICERS 1 and 2, the Chairman of
27
the 1MDB Board, 1MDBs Secretary, and three directors of the 1MDB Board.
28
27
83.
The 1MDB Board minutes for that meeting indicate that 1MDB OFFICER
2 made false and misleading representations to the Board in explaining key details
relating to the $700 million wire transfer. For example, 1MDB OFFICER 2 informed
the Board that, [o]f the US$1 billion [1MDB] was supposed to inject into the [Joint
Venture], . . . US$700 million was remitted to PSI directly as settlement of all the
amounts owed by the JVCo. to PSI. This statement is false and misleading for several
reasons:
a.
8
9
10
wire transfer was sent directly to PetroSaudi was false. As noted above in paragraph 79,
these funds were sent to an account held in the name of Good Star.
b.
11
12
13
Third, a loan does not appear to have ever been made by PetroSaudi
14
to the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV and, thus, the $700 million wire transfer could not have
15
16
17
the JVA on or about September 28, 2009, was aware that the JVA included contractual
18
19
purported loan, neither 1MDB OFFICER 1 nor 1MDB OFFICER 2 disclosed this fact to
20
the1MDB Board prior to October 3, 2009 after the $700 million wire had already been
21
22
84.
Even without having been told that the $700 million wire was sent to an
23
account held in the name of Good Star, 1MDB Board members raised concerns about the
24
25
pertinent part:
26
The concerns raised by the [1MDB Board] that the recent developments in
27
the joint venture was not in accordance with the [1MDB Boards]
28
28
(a)
was for the full USA $1 billion to be wired to the joint bank account under
the name of the [Joint Venture] and the [Joint Ventures] board of directors
***
10
11
12
13
14
15
85.
After expressing these concerns, 1MDB Board members asked that 1MDB
16
determine whether it would be possible to seek the return of the $700 million so that the
17
funds could be remitted through the original agreed channel, namely, the BSI Bank
18
19
86.
20
not to deviate from the [1MDB Boards] instructions and what the [1MDB Board] has
21
22
87.
The 1MDB Board met again in Selangor, Malaysia, on October 10, 2009.
23
The individuals present at the meeting included 1MDB OFFICER 2, the Chairman of the
24
1MDB Board, 1MDBs Secretary, and three directors of the 1MDB Board.
25
88.
The 1MDB Board minutes for this meeting indicate that 1MDB OFFICER 2
26
sought to respond to the concerns raised by the 1MDB Board at the October 3, 2009
27
meeting. Specifically, 1MDB OFFICER 2 represented that the $700 million wire
28
transfer was sent directly to PetroSaudi in order to repay PetroSaudis purported $700
29
million loan to the Joint Venture. 1MDBs management explained that, pursuant to
clause 4.5 of the JVA, 1MDB was required to repay PetroSaudis loan by September 30,
2009.
89.
In fact, clause 4.5 of the JVA required the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV, rather
than 1MDB itself, to repay PetroSaudi for the purported loan. Furthermore, by the
JVAs terms, the repayment of the loan could be made only after notice was provided to
both 1MDB and PetroSaudi and both entities approved the repayment. However, prior
to October 3, 2009, the 1MDB Board was never told about a purported loan from
10
90.
11
meetings held shortly thereafter to discuss the transaction, did 1MDB OFFICER 1 or 2
12
inform the 1MDB Board that funds from 1MDB had been sent to Good Star.
13
14
F.
15
16
91.
17
the Good Star Account in 2011 under false pretenses. Although these funds were
18
19
signed by 1MDB and the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV, the funds were instead transmitted via
20
international wire transfers to the Good Star Account. Although 1MDB officials were
21
aware that these funds were not being sent to an account maintained by the 1MDB-
22
PetroSaudi JV, this fact was withheld from Deutsche Bank. J.P. Morgan correspondent
23
bank records demonstrate that funds were transferred to LOWs Good Star Account.
24
92.
25
agreement with 1MDB called a Murabaha Financing Agreement (MFA). Under the
26
MFA, 1MDB agreed to provide the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV with a loan at an annual rate
27
of return of 8.75%.
28
30
93.
Notice of Drawing (the Notice). The Notice was signed by the PETROSAUDI CEO
on behalf of the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV and requested that 1MDB transmit $330 million
94.
J.P. Morgan correspondent bank records show that between May 20 and
October 25, 2011, $330,000,000 was transferred from 1MDB to the Good Star Account
over four wire transfers ($330 million wire transfers). Each of these transfers was a
including AmBank and Deutsche Bank, and was processed through a U.S. correspondent
10
bank account at J.P. Morgan Chase. The following is a summary of the 2011 transfers
11
12
13
Date8
Amount
15
16
$30,000,000
Originating
Bank
AmBank
U.S. Correspondent
Bank
J.P. Morgan Chase
$65,000,000
AmBank
$110,000,000
Deutsche Bank
$125,000,000
AmBank
14
17
18
19
20
21
22
95.
On or about May 23, 2011, 1MDBs Chief Financial Officer wrote a letter
23
to a Bank Negara official misrepresenting the identity of the recipient of the 1MDB
24
funds being disbursed under the MFA. In the letter, the 1MDB official thanked Bank
25
Negara for having approved the transmission of $330 million to the 1MDB-PetroSaudi
26
27
28
The dates of wire transfers may vary, even among different records for the same
wire transfer, based, for example, on time zone differences and/or the lapse of time
between the initiation of the wire, the crediting of funds to the correspondent bank, and
the crediting of funds to the beneficiary bank.
31
JV and explained that 1MDB-PSI has requested us to remit the funds to the account of
its parent company, PetroSaudi International Limited (PSI Limited) instead of the
account of 1MDB-PSI. In truth, however, these funds were not being sent to
96.
On or about May 25, 2011, the PETROSAUDI CEO sent 1MDB a letter on
behalf of PetroSaudi and the 1MDB-PetroSaudi JV. This letter confirmed that the
account at RBS Coutts in Switzerland had received the $30 million and the $65 million
wires referenced in the table above. However, the PETROSAUDI CEO requested that
10
beneficiary of these wire transfers was actually Account No. XXX.2000 (the Good
11
12
97.
The PETROSAUDI CEOs statement in the May 25, 2011, letter that the
13
funds were not going to Petrosaudi International Limited was materially inconsistent
14
with the representation made by 1MDB OFFICER 2 in the September 30, 2009, email to
15
Deutsche Bank, described above in paragraph 76, in which 1MDB OFFICER 2 stated
16
17
98.
18
19
20
21
G.
22
23
24
25
99.
As set forth above, between September and October 2009, $700 million was
fraudulently diverted from 1MDB to the Good Star Account. An additional $330 million
26
9
27
28
All but the last four digits of the account number identified in PETROSAUDI
CEOs May 25, 2011, letter have been redacted pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 5.2. The full account number listed in the PETROSAUDI CEOs letter
matches the account number for the Good Star Account.
32
was fraudulently diverted from 1MDB to the Good Star Account between May and
October 2011. According to J.P. Morgan Chase banking records, between February and
Riyad Bank maintained in the name of a Saudi prince who, together with the
From those funds, $20,000,000 was then transferred, within days, to an account
8
9
the Good Star Account to the account of the PETROSAUDI CO-FOUNDER at Riyad
10
Bank (PSI Co-Founder Account): (i) one for approximately $12,500,000 on or about
11
February 18, 2011, and (ii) another for approximately $12,000,000 on or about June 10,
12
2011.
13
101. Correspondent bank records from J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo show
14
that days after the transfers from the Good Star Account to the PSI Co-Founder Account,
15
approximately $20,000,000 in funds was transferred from the PSI Co-Founder Account
16
17
18
19
February 23, 2011, roughly five days after the PETROSAUDI CO-FOUNDER received
20
$12.5 million from the Good Star Account, and (ii) another wire for approximately $10
21
million on or about June 13, 2011, roughly three days after the PETROSAUDI CO-
22
FOUNDER received $12 million from the Good Star Account. These funds transferred
23
into and out of the PSI Co-Founder Account are summarized below:
24
25
26
27
28
33
Co-Founder Account
Co-Founder Account
From
Date
2/18/2011
2/23/2011
Good Star
Account
Amount
Amount
$12,500,000
$10,000,000
AMPRIVATE
BANKING-MR
Account
$10,000,000
AMPRIVATE
BANKING-MR
Account
8
9
6/10/2011
10
11
Good Star
Account
To
$12,000,000
6/13/2011
12
13
14
15
16
AMPRIVATE BANKING-MR Account is the same account that later received certain
17
payments totaling approximately $681 million in March 2013. As set forth in Paragraph
18
263 below, the Attorney General of Malaysia has publicly stated that the account into
19
20
OFFICIAL 1.
21
22
23
24
H.
25
26
foregoing unlawful activity into the United States for the personal benefit of himself and
27
his associates.
28
34
104. Between approximately October 21, 2009, and October 13, 2010, eleven
wires totaling approximately $368 million were sent from the Good Star Account to an
Interest on Lawyer Account held by the law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP in the United
5
6
7
105. More particularly, bank records show the following credits to the Shearman
IOLA Account from the Good Star Account:
Table 3: Transfers from Good Star to the Shearman IOLA Account
8
9
10
Date
Amount
10/21/2009
1/20/2010
$148,000,000
$117,000,000
N/A
A.PH52A1 C.PARK.W .NY (BID-USD
35M) B.AV. INVEST.(USD37.5M)
C.STAKE V.H (USD 15M)
D.VICEROY ST. M.H(USD 10M)
E.PEARL ENERGY (THAILAND) USD
19.5M
3/3/2010
$35,059,875
5/13/2010
$15,780,000
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
10
26
27
28
Bank records demonstrate that Shearman maintained one control account into
which each of the wire transfers from the Good Star Account referenced above was
transferred. In addition to this control account, Shearman maintained a number of client
escrow accounts to which some client funds were distributed after their receipt.
References to the Shearman IOLA Account refer to the control account.
35
Date
Amount
6/23/2010
$8,599,985
BID PROCESS-ASCQUISITION OF 94
PICCADILLY RD LONDON (IN AND
OUT CLUB)FOR HOTEL
DEVELOPMENT +
SERVICRESIDENCES (PROOF OF
FUNDS)
8/17/2010
$2,799,985
N/A
8/31/2010
$653,985
9/3/2010
$8,645,985
9/28/2010
$5,999,985
9/28/2010
$17,999,985
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS/PROPERTY
PAYMENT FOR EXTENSION
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS/PROPERTY
PARTBALANCE PAYMENT
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS/PROPERTY
(2 PCT BID. NEW YORK HELMSLEY
HOTEL - USD300M
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS /PROPERTY
(FULL BALANCE PAYMENT +
RENOVATION)
10/13/2010
$7,999,985
Total:
$368,539,770.00
3
4
5
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS/PROPERTY
BID HELMSLEY HOTEL NYC
USD300M TRANCHE 2
Shearman IOLA Account to Las Vegas casinos, luxury yacht rental companies, business
jet rental vendors, a London interior decorator, and associates and family members of
108. For example, between October 2009 and October 2010, misappropriated
1MDB funds sent from the Good Star Account into the Shearman IOLA Account were
Vegas casino; (ii) approximately $13,400,000 in wires to the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the
owner of the Venetian Las Vegas, another casino; (iii) a wire for approximately
10
$4,000,000 in wires to Jet Logic Ltd., a luxury jet rental service; (v) a wire for
11
12
13
14
Argent Design Ltd., a United Kingdom-based interior designer; (ix) a wire for
15
approximately $670,000 to Excel Air, a jet rental company; (x) approximately $460,000
16
in wires to Skyline Private Air, an aircraft rental company; and (xi) a wire for
17
18
19
20
21
22
I.
23
109. Over the course of five wire transfers between June 28, 2011, and
24
September 4, 2013, approximately $389 million was transferred from the Good Star
25
Account to an account at BSI Bank in Singapore held in the name of Abu Dhabi Kuwait
26
Malaysia Investment Corp. (ADKMIC BSI Account). LOW is the beneficial owner of
27
28
37
1
2
York business person on or about August 13, 2013, the Low family represented that
Mr. Jho Low founded the Abu Dhabi-Kuwait-Malaysia Investment Corporation in 2007
dollar buyouts with interests in construction, real estate development (Putrajaya Perdana
Berhad), water infrastructure (Loh & Loh Corporation Berhad), road concessions and oil
9
10
credits to the ADKMIC BSI Account from the Good Star Account:
11
12
Date
Amount
$55,000,000
September 4, 2012
$38,000,000
November 2, 2012
$153,000,000
$142,500,000
September 4, 2013
$456,027
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
As described below, the funds transferred to the ADKMIC BSI Account were then used
by LOW and others to acquire assets in the United States, among other things.
III.
23
24
25
26
27
A.
112. In 2012, approximately $1.367 billion in 1MDB funds that were raised in
two separate bond offerings were misappropriated and fraudulently diverted to bank
accounts in Switzerland and Singapore. In issuing these bonds, 1MDB participated in
28
38
the publication and disclosure of two offering circulars that contained material
a.
b.
c.
issuances, including that 1MDB officials, IPIC officials, and their associates
10
113. After more than $1 billion had been misappropriated from 1MDB between
11
2009 and 2011 in the Good Star Phase, 1MDB needed to raise additional capital to fund
12
its operations. As set forth in greater detail below, 1MDB engaged Goldman to arrange
13
and underwrite two separate bond offerings in 2012. One of the stated purposes of the
14
2012 bond issues was to raise funds to allow 1MDB to acquire certain energy assets.
15
16
guaranteed, either directly or indirectly, both 2012 bond offerings and, in exchange, a
17
nominated subsidiary of IPIC was granted an option to purchase a minority share of the
18
19
115. Almost immediately after receiving the proceeds of each of the 2012 bond
20
21
approximately $1.367 billion between the two bond sales, or more than forty percent of
22
the net proceeds raised to a Swiss bank account belonging to an entity called Aabar
23
24
25
called Aabar Investments PJS (referred to herein as Aabar). At the time of these
26
27
IPIC and the Chairman of Aabar; and Mohamed Ahmed Badawy Al-HUSSEINY
28
39
(HUSSEINY) was the CEO of Aabar. QUBAISI and HUSSEINY were also directors
of Aabar-BVI.
116. In their audited financial statements for the year ending on March 31, 2014,
117. Following the dismissal of QUBAISI and HUSSEINY from their positions
at IPIC and Aabar in 2015, IPIC and Aabar have recently clarified that Aabar-BVI is not
10
11
Account) was used to siphon off proceeds of the two 2012 bond sales for the personal
12
benefit of individuals affiliated with IPIC, Aabar, and 1MDB, as well as their associates.
13
Beginning within days of receiving funds from 1MDB, Aabar-BVI transferred a total of
14
approximately $636 million to the Singapore bank account held by Blackstone Asia Real
15
Estate Partners (Blackstone Account). During this same time period, Aabar-BVI
16
17
$465 million to the Blackstone Account. The beneficial owner of the Blackstone
18
Account was identified in bank records as Eric TAN Kim Loong (TAN), a
19
20
21
22
May and November 2012, shortly after Blackstones receipt of funds from the Aabar-
23
24
beneficially owned by QUBAISI. During roughly the same time period, Blackstone
25
26
27
28
40
who was then 1MDBs General Counsel and Executive Director of Group Strategy.
120. Shortly after receiving proceeds of the two 2012 bond sales from 1MDB,
Granite Capital, an entity owned by Riza Shahriz Bin Abdul AZIZ (AZIZ). AZIZ is a
AZIZ used these funds to purchase luxury real estate in the United States and the United
Kingdom for his personal benefit, and to fund his movie production company, Red
Granite Pictures. 1MDB has disclaimed any investment interest in Red Granite Pictures.
10
11
B.
12
13
14
1.
15
for financial advice in connection with 1MDBs anticipated acquisition of certain power
16
assets in Malaysia.
17
18
19
acquire Tanjong Energy Holdings Sdn Bhd (Tanjong Energy), a power production
20
company, from Tanjong Power Holdings Sdn Bhd (Tanjong Power) for MYR 8.5
21
billion, or approximately $2.755 billion U.S. dollars. 1MDB planned to raise MYR 6
22
billion of this MYR 8.5 billion through the local bank market.11
23
123. 1MDB engaged Goldman to assist in securing financing for the remaining
24
MYR 2.5 billion necessary to complete the Tanjong deal. By letter dated March 19,
25
2012, 1MDB engaged Goldman, through its Singapore office, as the sole bookrunner
26
and arranger for debt financing in connection with its capital needs for the Tanjong
27
11
28
acquisition. The engagement letter was signed by 1MDB OFFICER 2 and a Managing
Goldman, this bond deal was referred to by the name Project Magnolia.
4
5
6
to the May 21, 2012, bond closing date reflect that employees at Goldman offered
differing information about the nature of LOWs relationship to 1MDB and/or his role in
10
11
12
a.
13
discussed whether LOW was involved in the Project Magnolia deal on behalf of 1MDB.
14
In an email dated April 3, 2012, a Goldman employee noted that Jho Low is also
15
known to have close friends/ contacts in Abu Dhabi. In an email response dated April
16
3, 2012, another Goldman employee wrote: [Goldman Managing Director] said Jho
17
Low [was] not involved at all in deal as far as he aware [sic] but that Low was present
18
when [Goldman Managing Director] met . . . [the] Chairman of IPIC, in Abu Dhabi.
19
126. The offering circular for the Project Magnolia bonds, dated May 18, 2012,
20
indicates that 1MDB Energy issued $1.75 billion in privately-placed notes, with an
21
interest rate of 5.99% per annum, redeemable in 2022. The closing date of the bond
22
issue was May 21, 2012. The net proceeds were projected to be approximately
23
24
127. The offering circular represented that the net proceeds of the bond issue
25
26
approximately $1,553,800,000 raised through the Project Magnolia bond sale, MYR 2.5
27
billion, or approximately $810 million, was designated in the offering circular for use in
28
acquiring Tanjong Energy. The remainder of the net proceeds, approximately $744
42
million, was designated for general corporate purposes (which may include future
acquisitions).
transaction indicates that the general corporate purposes for which the bond proceeds
were contemplated included pre-fund guarantee fees to IPIC, cash on balance sheet, and
129. In reality, however, nearly $577 million a sum equivalent to more than
one third of the net proceeds of the Project Magnolia bond offering was diverted to
Aabar-BVI within one day of 1MDBs having received the proceeds of the bond
10
offering. Nothing in the offering circular disclosed that 1MDB would transfer any of the
11
12
be used for the benefit of officials at 1MDB, IPIC, and Aabar, including QUBAISI,
13
14
130. In exchange for Goldmans services in arranging the bond offering and in
15
underwriting the notes, 1MDB agreed to pay Goldman: (a) a fee of 1% of the principal
16
amount of the notes, or $17.5 million, as an Arranger Fee, and (b) $175,000,000, as a
17
Commission, for a total of $192,500,000. These fees amount to roughly 11% of the
18
principal amount of the offering and were to be deducted directly from the subscription
19
20
131. The notes issued by 1MBD Energy as part of Project Magnolia were
21
guaranteed by 1MDB. The notes were also jointly and severally guaranteed by IPIC,
22
which enabled 1MDB to obtain a better credit rating and, thus, a more favorable interest
23
rate on the bonds. QUBAISI signed the Representation Agreement between IPIC and
24
Goldman in which IPIC agreed to jointly guarantee the $1.75 billion in notes. Pursuant
25
to an Interguarantor Agreement between 1MDB and IPIC, dated May 21, 2012, 1MDB
26
agreed to procure Ministry of Finance Inc to provide the necessary funding and support
27
to repay IPIC any amounts payable and due under the notes. That agreement was
28
132. A document prepared by Goldman for IPIC entitled IPIC: Meeting With
Ratings Agencies, Topics to Discuss, characterized IPICs joint guarantee for the
1MDB bond issue as unusual by previous IPIC standards. It went on to indicate that
the guarantee was expected to cement the strategic partnership between 1MDB and
IPIC which is in line with IPICs broader investment strategy in the energy and related
sectors globally and 1MDBs mission to promote foreign direct investment into
Malaysia.
omitted material facts necessary to make its representations not misleading regarding the
10
11
example, the offering circular indicated that in exchange for IPICs guarantee, 1MDB
12
13
of the share of capital in 1MDB Energy within a ten-year period. In reality, however,
14
this option was actually awarded to Aabar-BVI, which was neither owned by nor
15
16
134. The consideration given by 1MDB in exchange for IPICs guarantee was set
17
forth in a May 18, 2012, Option Agreement between 1MDB Energy and Aabar
18
Investments PJS Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (i.e.,
19
20
21
shares in the holding company that acquired Tanjong Energy, for a maximum price of up
22
to MYR 1,225,000,000. The agreement specified that this call option was granted to
23
Aabar-BVI [i]n consideration of [Aabar-BVI] procuring the Guarantee from IPIC and
24
the sum of United States Dollar One (USD1.00) paid by [Aabar-BVI] to [1MDB
25
26
27
28
44
2.
advice from Goldman in connection with its anticipated acquisition of power assets from
additional tranche of capital to acquire those assets. As with the Project Magnolia bond
deal, 1MDB elected to have the bond issue fully underwritten by Goldman for an
additional fee. Within Goldman, this private placement bond transaction was referred to
9
10
11
136. 1MDB OFFICER 3 served as the primary point of contact between 1MDB
and Goldman concerning the Project Maximus transaction.
137. 1MDB entered into an agreement to purchase power assets from Genting
12
Berhad (Genting) on or about August 13, 2012. That same day, 1MDB created
13
14
Energy Langat), for the purposes of holding the power assets and issuing debt securities
15
16
138. The offering circular for Project Maximus, dated October 17, 2012,
17
indicated that 1MDB issued $1.75 billion in bonds through its second private placement
18
with Goldman, with a closing date of October 19, 2012. The notes had an interest rate of
19
5.75% per annum and were redeemable in 2022. The net proceeds of the bond sale
20
once Goldmans fees, commissions, and expenses were deducted were listed in the
21
22
139. The offering circular represented that the net proceeds of the Project
23
Maximus bond sale were to be used by 1MDB Energy Langat, in part, to satisfy its
24
obligations under its agreement to acquire power assets from Genting Berhad.
25
Specifically, the offering circular represents that 1MDB Energy Langat intended to use
26
27
the purpose of the Genting acquisition, and it intended to use the balance of the proceeds
28
a sum equivalent to roughly half of the net proceeds of the Project Maximus bond
offering was diverted to Aabar-BVI on or about the same day that 1MDB received the
proceeds of this bond sale. As with Project Magnolia, the offering circular for Project
Maximus nowhere disclosed that nearly half of the net bond proceeds would be
141. 1MDB guaranteed the notes issued by 1MDB Energy Langat. Although
10
IPIC did not directly guarantee the Project Maximus notes as it had with the Project
11
Magnolia bonds, it nevertheless agreed to privately secure the bonds on a bilateral basis
12
with Goldman. No reference to IPICs indirect guarantee was included in the offering
13
circular. The consideration given for that guarantee was set forth in an October 17,
14
15
1MDB Energy Langat and Aabar Investments PJS, a joint stock company organized
16
under the laws of Abu Dhabi. That agreement stated that, [i]n consideration of Aabar
17
Investments procuring the Guarantee from IPIC and the sum of United States Dollar One
18
(USD1.00) paid by Aabar Investments to [1MDB], 1MDB granted Aabar the option to
19
acquire a forty-nine percent (49%) interest in 1MDB Energy Langat within a ten year
20
period.
21
22
142. Taken together, in 2012, 1MDB issued $3.5 billion in bonds that were
underwritten by Goldman and guaranteed by IPIC.
23
24
25
26
27
28
C.
143. Over the course of several months, a large portion of the proceeds of both of
the 2012 bond sales approximately $1.367 billion in total was transferred from
46
1MDB to a bank account at BSI Bank in Switzerland held in the name of Aabar-BVI.
Plaintiff alleges on information and belief that the funds transferred to the Aabar-BVI
Swiss Account by 1MDB were not held for the benefit of 1MDB, IPIC, or Aabar.
Rather, the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account was used to unlawfully divert proceeds of both
the Project Magnolia and Project Maximus bonds, which were thereafter used, after
1.
10
11
On or about May 22, 2012, Within Roughly One Day of the First
12
2012. Documentation associated with the bond deal shows that a total of $650,000,000
13
was to be deducted from the proceeds and remitted directly to accounts designated by
14
Tanjong Power, the entity from which 1MDB Energy had agreed to purchase Tanjong
15
Energy.
16
145. On or about May 21, 2012, a total of $907,500,000 in proceeds from the
17
bond sale was transferred, at the direction of Bank of New YorkLondon, from an
18
account at Bank of New York MellonNew York in the United States to an account at
19
20
146. Roughly one day later, on or about May 22, 2012, a wire in the amount of
21
$576,943,490 was sent from 1MDB Energys bank account at Falcon Bank to an account
22
23
Swiss Account). This amount represents more than one third of the net proceeds from
24
the bond sale. The funds passed through correspondent bank accounts at J.P. Morgan
25
Chase and Citibank in the United States before being transferred to Aabar-BVI.
26
27
147. Nothing in the Project Magnolia offering circular disclosed that any funds
would be sent to Aabar-BVI, let alone one third of the net bond proceeds.
28
47
148. Falcon Bank is wholly-owned by Aabar, and at the time that the
$576,943,490 was transferred from 1MDB Energys bank account at Falcon Bank to the
2.
On or about October 19, 2012, Roughly the Same Day as the Second
7
8
149. The proceeds from the Project Maximus bonds, which were issued on or
about October 19, 2012, were transferred according to a similar pattern.
150. 1MDB directed that payment of the proceeds of the Project Maximus bond
10
sale, totaling $1,640,000,000, be made on October 19, 2012, to 1MDB Energy Langats
11
account at Falcon Bank, via Falcon Banks U.S. correspondent bank account at J.P.
12
Morgan Chase.
13
151. On or about October 19, 2012, 1MDB Energy Langat wired $692,174,991
14
15
belonging to Genting Power Holdings Limited in connection with the purchase of power
16
assets.
17
152. On or about that same day (that is, October 19, 2012), 1MDB wire
18
transferred $790,354,855 to the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account. This sum represents close to
19
fifty percent (50%) of the net proceeds of the October 19, 2012 bond sale. The funds
20
passed through correspondent bank accounts at J.P. Morgan Chase and Citibank in the
21
22
153. Nothing in the Project Maximus offering circular disclosed that any portion
23
of the funds, let alone close to fifty percent of the net proceeds of the bond sale, would
24
25
154. Collectively, between the two 2012 bond sales, officials at 1MDB
26
27
Account. This represented more than forty percent (40%) of the total net proceeds of the
28
1
2
3
3.
entity incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and is separate and distinct from
the BVI indicates that Aabar-BVI was incorporated in BVI on March 14, 2012. That
10
11
12
existing entity, without the need to prove any relationship to the existing entity. This is a
13
14
possible to incorporate an entity in the BVI without providing evidence of the entitys
15
true beneficial ownership and without providing evidence of the relationship between the
16
17
18
19
Aabar or IPIC operating within the bounds of any authority granted by Aabar or IPIC,
20
and the funds transmitted from 1MDB to the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account were not held in
21
22
23
1MDB to pay Aabar-BVI, either as a premium or as collateral, more than forty percent
24
(40%) of the net proceeds from the two 2012 bond sales in order to secure the
25
guarantees. This information would have been material to the transactions, because it
26
would have significantly affected 1MDBs liquidity, as well as its ability to engage
27
successfully in the business ventures described in the offering circulars, and thereby
28
(PAC) initiated an audit of certain 1MDB financial transactions and produced a public
report of its findings. Auditors working at the direction of the PAC concluded that the
$1.367 billion security deposit payments made to Aabar-BVI in 2012 were made
161. On or about April 11, 2016, IPIC and Aabar issued a statement to the
London Stock Exchange in response to media reports indicating that a BVI entity called
Aabar Investments PJS Limited had received substantial payments from 1MDB. In that
statement, IPIC and Aabar stated that, Aabar BVI was not an entity within either
10
corporate group and that neither IPIC nor Aabar has received any payments from
11
Aabar BVI. . . .
12
13
issued a press release on April 11, 2016, in which 1MDB indicated that it paid Aabar-
14
BVI substantial sums in 2012, as recorded in its financial statements. That same
15
release also asserted that, 1MDB company records show documentary evidence of the
16
ownership of Aabar BVI and of each payment made, pursuant to various legal
17
agreements that were negotiated with Khadem Al Qubaisi in his capacity as Managing
18
Director of IPIC & Chairman of Aabar and/or with Mohamed Badawy Al Husseiny, in
19
20
21
22
163. QUBAISI and HUSSEINY were dismissed from their positions at IPIC and
Aabar in 2015.
164. In June 2016, IPIC filed its consolidated financial statements for the year
23
ending December 31, 2015, with the London Stock Exchange. In those financial
24
statements, IPIC indicated that it understands that other companies outside the groups
25
26
the Aabar name. The Group is investigating these entities further. IPIC reiterated that
27
neither it nor Aabar were affiliated with, or received payments from, Aabar-BVI.
28
Finally, IPIC indicated that after 1MDB defaulted on two interest payments due under
50
the 2012 notes in the first half of 2016, IPIC made interest payments totaling $103
165. As set forth below, funds transferred from 1MDB to the Aabar-BVI Swiss
Account were distributed, inter alia, to officials at IPIC, Aabar, and 1MDB, including
QUBAISI and HUSSEINY, with several payments occurring within days of the receipt
of 1MDB funds by Aabar-BVI. Plaintiff alleges on information and belief that the
Aabar-BVI Swiss Account was used to conceal and to facilitate this unlawful diversion
of funds.
9
10
11
12
13
D.
14
approximately $1.1 billion was thereafter transferred, either directly or indirectly via
15
overseas investments funds, into the Blackstone Account. The Blackstone Account was
16
17
belief that the Blackstone Account was used as a transit account to improperly distribute
18
19
1.
20
21
1MDB
22
167. Between approximately May 25, 2012, and December 14, 2012, five wire
23
transfers totaling $636,000,000 were sent from the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account to an
24
account at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore held in the name of Blackstone Asia
25
Real Estate Partners (Blackstone). These wire transfers were processed through
26
correspondent bank accounts at Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank in the United
27
States. The approximate dates and amounts of these five wires appear below:
28
51
Date
Amount
Sending Party
Receiving Party
5/25/2012
$295,000,000
Aabar-BVI
Blackstone
7/25/2012
$133,000,000
Aabar-BVI
Blackstone
10/23/2012
$75,000,000
Aabar-BVI
Blackstone
11/23/2012
$95,000,000
Aabar-BVI
Blackstone
12/14/2012
$39,000,000
Aabar-BVI
Blackstone
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
168. TAN was identified as the beneficial owner of the Blackstone Account and
an authorized signatory on the account. The account was originally opened in the name
of Foreign FX Trading Limited. The account name was changed to Blackstone Asia
Real Estate Partners on or about May 26, 2011.
169. TAN is a friend and associate of LOW. Plaintiff alleges on information and
belief, however, that TANs only connection to 1MDB was his relationship with LOW.
170. Bank statements show that prior to the wire transfer of $295,000,000 from
Aabar-BVI on or about May 25, 2012, the account balance for the Blackstone Account
was $532,981.
171. Plaintiff alleges on information and belief that Blackstone was a shell
corporation created for the purpose of maintaining a bank account to funnel diverted
money, based on the following facts and circumstances, among others:
a.
The flow of money into and out of the Blackstone Account is not
consistent with what can reasonably be characterized as regular business activity. For
example, the account did not have the types of debits and credits consistent with
legitimate business activity, including, for example, transfers to vendors, payroll, or
receipt of proceeds from customers.
b.
Singapore called Raffles Cash Exchange. Between approximately July 2011 and
February 2013, twenty wires were sent from the Blackstone Account to Raffles Cash
52
brokers, especially for large sums and where the entity already maintains an account at a
money in a way that is less likely to be traced by law enforcement and regulatory
officials.
c.
similar, though not identical, to the name of a major real estate private equity firm,
10
private investment firm Blackstone Group an entity listed on the New York Stock
11
Exchange and has, according to its website, $101 billion in assets under management.
12
The practice of utilizing a bank account held by an entity with a name that mimics a
13
14
15
scrutiny by the financial institutions involved, for example, because of the size of the
16
17
transaction.
18
2.
19
20
172. Within days of Aabar-BVIs receipt of proceeds from the Project Maximus
21
bond offering, an additional $455,000,000 was transferred from the Aabar-BVI Swiss
22
23
173. On or about October 22, 2012 roughly six days after the Project Maximus
24
bond issue and four days after Aabar-BVI received approximately $790 million from
25
1MDB Energy Langat Aabar-BVI sent approximately $75 million to a bank account at
26
27
(Enterprise). On or about the same day, Aabar-BVI also sent approximately $291
28
sent an additional approximately $97 million to Enterprise. In the case of each of these
three payments, the funds were transferred from Aabar-BVI via the clearing company
5
6
7
174. Enterprise and Cistenique are relatively small investment funds located in
Curacao that have other customers and hold investments unrelated to 1MDB.
175. Shortly after Cistenique and Enterprise received funds from Aabar-BVI,
particularly:
a.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
177. In total, between May and December 2012, approximately $1.1 billion was
22
transferred directly or indirectly from the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account to the Blackstone
23
Account.
24
25
26
27
28
54
E.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
178. Once funds were transferred from Aabar-BVI to Blackstone, they were used
to make payments to QUBAISI and HUSSEINY, who served as officers of both Aabar
and Aabar-BVI, to MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1, and to 1MDB OFFICER 3. The
distribution of these funds from the Blackstone Account for the personal benefit of
officials involved in the bond deal further evidences a misappropriation of public funds
and the diversion of the bond proceeds from their intended purpose.
179. Neither of the offering circulars for the 2012 bonds contained any
disclosure that a substantial portion of the proceeds of the bonds would be paid to
officials of IPIC, Aabar, and 1MDB. This fact would have been material to the bond
transaction, as it would have alerted investors to the possibility of conflicts of interest
and related-party transactions. The representation that the proceeds of the two bond
deals could be used for other corporate purposes of 1MDB does not encompass the use
of those funds for the personal benefit of officials of IPIC, Aabar, or 1MDB.
180. Although both offering circulars also contained boilerplate language about
the limits of any forward-looking statements, this boilerplate language similarly did
not encompass the possibility that 1MDB would radically depart from the stated
intended use of the bond proceeds almost immediately after the closing dates for each
offering. More specifically, each offering circular indicated generically that any
forward-looking statements contained in the circular, such as those statements
containing will or expect, were reasonable at the time of the offering circular but
were not meant to give assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct in the
future. This boilerplate language was intended, among other things, to give 1MDB
business flexibility to respond to changed circumstances in the future; it did not,
however, contemplate or convey the possibility that 1MDB would almost immediately
55
begin diverting the proceeds of the bond sale to Aabar-BVI and thereafter to accounts
1.
4
5
181. Between approximately May 29, 2012, and November 30, 2012, four wires
totaling $472,750,000 were sent from the Blackstone Account to an account at Bank
10
United States. As shown in the table below, each of these four wire transfers was made
11
within a matter of days after the Blackstone Account received funds from Aabar-BVI,
12
including two of the four that were made within about ten days of Aabar-BVIs receipt
13
14
15
16
Date
Sending Party
Receiving Party
Amount
5/22/2012
5/25/2012
5/29/2012
1MDB Energy
Aabar BVI
Blackstone
Aabar BVI
Blackstone
Vasco Investments
$576,943,490
$295,000,000
$158,000,000
7/25/2012
8/1/2012
Aabar BVI
Blackstone
Blackstone
Vasco Investments
$133,000,000
$100,750,000
23
10/19/2012
Aabar BVI
$790,354,855
24
10/2210/24/2012
10/2210/24/2012
10/23/12
10/29/12
1MDB Energy
Langat
Aabar-BVI (via
Enterprise)
Aabar-BVI (via
Cistenique)
Aabar BVI
Blackstone
Blackstone
$75,000,000
Blackstone
Blackstone
Vasco Investments
$285,000,000
$75,000,000
$129,000,000
17
18
19
20
21
22
25
26
27
28
56
1
2
11/23/2012
11/30/2-12
Aabar BVI
Blackstone
Blackstone
Vasco Investments
$95,000,000
$85,000,000
4
5
183. QUBAISI used a portion of the $472,250,000 transferred into the Vasco
Account from Blackstone to acquire real property in the United States worth roughly
$100 million, as described further in Section V. The assets purchased with funds from
the Vasco Account were not held by or used for the benefit of 1MDB or 1MDBs
10
subsidiaries, nor were the assets held by or used for the benefit of IPIC or Aabar.
184. QUBAISIs receipt of proceeds from 1MDBs 2012 bond sales for his own
11
12
13
14
the Chairman nor the other Board members shall have a direct or indirect interest in the
15
contracts and projects entered into, carried out or intended to be entered into or carried
16
out by the Company and the Company shall not grant them any financial facilities. To
17
the extent that QUBAISI purported to be acting in his capacity as Managing Director of
18
19
including the receipt of 1MDB funds into the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account and the transfer
20
of funds through the Blackstone Account to his own Vasco Account, he was acting ultra
21
vires.
22
185. Upon information and belief, at the time that LOW, TAN, and QUBAISI
23
transferred or caused the transfer of funds from the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account to
24
Blackstone using a U.S. correspondent bank account at Standard Chartered Bank, as well
25
as at the time that LOW, TAN, and QUBAISI transferred or caused the transfer of funds
26
from Blackstone to the Vasco Account using a U.S. correspondent bank account at
27
Standard Chartered Bank, as well as at the time that QUBAISI transferred or caused the
28
transfer of funds from the Vasco Account into the United States for the purchase of real
57
property, LOW, TAN, and QUBAISI knew that the funds had been misappropriated
from 1MDB and/or IPIC, and they intended to deprive 1MDB and/or IPIC of ownership
2.
5
6
7
8
9
186. Between May and December 2012, entities belonging to HUSSEINY, thenCEO of Aabar, also received $66,600,000 from the Blackstone Account.
187. Between approximately May 29, 2012, and December 3, 2012, Blackstone
sent four separate wire transfers, totaling $55,000,000, to an account at BHF Bank in
10
Frankfurt, Germany, held in the name of Rayan Inc. (Rayan). Each of these four wire
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Date
Sending Party
Receiving Party
Amount
5/29/2012
Blackstone
Rayan
$30,000,000
7/13/2012
Blackstone
Rayan
$5,000,000
11/2/2012
Blackstone
Rayan
$10,000,000
12/3/2012
Blackstone
Rayan
$10,000,000
20
21
189. The first wire transfer from Blackstone to Rayan in the amount of
22
23
24
25
Rayan Account (that is, May 29, 2012), Blackstone separately transferred $158,000,000
26
27
28
190. On or about December 18, 2012 four days after Aabar-BVI transferred
$39,000,000 into the Blackstone Account Blackstone sent $10,100,000 to an account at
58
Bank of America in Texas held in the name of MB Consulting LLC (MB Consulting
Account). The payment details on the wire read: PAYMENT FOR SERVICES.
3
4
5
6
7
191. HUSSEINY is the beneficial owner of the MB Consulting Account and the
only authorized signatory on the account.
192. The MB Consulting Account received another wire transfer of $1,500,000
from the Blackstone Account on or about January 22, 2013.
3.
8
9
10
11
12
received $75,000,000 directly from Aabar-BVI and roughly six days after it received
13
14
15
16
195. That bank account belongs to MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1 and is the same
17
18
within days of the receipt by the PETROSAUDI CO-FOUNDER of funds from Good
19
20
196. On or about November 19, 2012 less than two weeks after Blackstone
21
22
23
MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1.
24
25
26
4.
27
sent from the Blackstone Account to an account at Falcon Bank in Zurich maintained in
28
1
2
198. 1MDB OFFICER 3 is the beneficial owner of the River Dee Account at
Falcon Bank.
***
3
4
199. On or about February 22, 2013, not long after funds were distributed to the
various officials as described above, the balance of the Blackstone Account fell to zero
200. Blackstone was used as an intermediary to obscure the fact that 1MDB
bond proceeds were being sent from Aabar-BVI of which QUBAISI and HUSSEINY
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
F.
202. Between June 18, 2012, and November 4, 2012, $238,000,000 was
18
19
AZIZ, a relative of MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1. From there, the funds were used to
20
acquire nearly $100 million in real property for the personal benefit of AZIZ and to fund
21
22
23
BSI Singapore held in the name of Red Granite Capital Limited (Red Granite Capital
24
25
26
27
28
60
1
2
Sending Party
Receiving Party
Amount
6/18/2012
Aabar-BVI
$133,000,000
10/23/2012 Aabar-BVI
$60,000,000
11/14/2012 Aabar-BVI
$45,000,000
7
8
9
10
11
Bank records reflect that AZIZ is also beneficial owner of the Red Granite Capital
12
Account in Singapore.
13
1.
14
15
16
205. AZIZ used more than $94,000,000 of the $238,000,000 that Aabar-BVI
17
transferred to Red Granite Capital in 2012 to purchase real estate in the United States
18
and the United Kingdom. AZIZ claimed, including in his 2012 U.S. tax return, that this
19
20
206. Shortly after receiving funds from the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account, AZIZ
21
sent two wires totaling $94,300,000 from his Red Granite Capital Account to the
22
Shearman IOLA Account in the United States. The first wire, in the amount of
23
$58,500,000, was sent on or about June 20, 2012, roughly two days after Red Granite
24
Capital received $133,000,000 from Aabar-BVI. The second wire, in the amount of
25
$35,800,000, was sent on or about November 15, 2012, roughly one day after Red
26
27
28
IOLA Account in the United States in which funds were held for his benefit.
61
1
2
3
207. AZIZ used this $94,300,000 to acquire three pieces of real estate one in
New York City, one in Beverly Hills, and one in London, United Kingdom.
208. The source and nature of the funds received from Aabar-BVI and used by
AZIZ to purchase real property was a topic of discussion among AZIZs accountants at
Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno (NKSFB), a Los Angeles-based business and
accounting firm, in connection with the preparation of his 2012 tax return:
a.
need something for our files that explains why AABAR Investments gave a gift to Riza
for $94,300,050 and it was not income. Is someone from the company related to
10
Riza? . . .
b.
11
12
acted as the business manager for AZIZ and Red Granite (Red Granite Business
13
14
15
part: The funds came from an investor in Red Granite Capital, I cannot sign the returns
16
without proof it is not income to Riza. The firm would be put at risk, these numbers are
17
too high.
18
209. In response to this email exchange, the Red Granite Business Manager,
19
through AZIZ, procured a letter, purporting to be from HUSSEINY and bearing his
20
21
22
23
consisted of a wire transfer on June 18, 2012 to BSI Bank, Ltd. (account
24
number [XXX]250A) for the benefit of Riza Aziz was intended as a gift.
25
The transfer was made for no consideration and no services were performed
26
or gift received for assets. This was a gratuitous transfer made with
27
28
62
relationship.12
3
4
6
7
8
9
wife.
211. The fact that Aabar-BVI purportedly gifted approximately $94 million to
AZIZ on the basis of disinterested generosity and the close personal relationship
10
between AZIZ and HUSSEINY further demonstrates that Aabar-BVI was not operating
11
as a legitimate subsidiary of Aabar or IPIC and that the funds held in the Swiss Aabar-
12
BVI account were not being held for the benefit of 1MDB, Aabar, or IPIC.
13
2.
14
15
212. Funds transferred from Aabar-BVI to AZIZs Red Granite Capital Account
16
were also used to fund Red Granite Pictures, an investment unaffiliated with 1MDB,
17
Aabar, or IPIC.
18
19
in 2010, which produced several major motion pictures, including The Wolf of Wall
20
Street, Friends with Kids, and Dumb and Dumber To. Red Granite Pictures was
21
22
changed its name to Red Granite Pictures on or about June 6, 2011. Red Granite
23
24
25
26
27
28
12
Contrary to the statements in this letter, no wire was sent from Aabar-BVI to
Red Granite Capital on June 18, 2012, in the amount of $94,500,00. Rather, as indicated
above, the June 18, 2012 wire from Aabar-BVI to Red Granite Capital was in the amount
of approximately $133,000,000. The amount claimed to be a gift, $94,500,000, is
roughly equal to the amount of money that AZIZ transferred into the United States over
a period of approximately five months and used to purchase personal assets.
63
214. Between June 20, 2012 two days after Aabar-BVI sent its first wire to Red
1
2
Granite Capital and November 20, 2012, eleven wires totaling $64,000,000 were sent
from the Red Granite Capital Account to an account at City National Bank in the United
5
6
then used to fund Red Granite Pictures operations, including the production of the film
The Wolf of Wall Street, which was released in the United States on December 25,
2013.
216. The funds sent from Aabar-BVI to Red Granite Capital, which were
10
thereafter transferred into the United States for use by Red Granite Pictures, did not
11
12
And balance sheets for Red Granite Pictures and Red Granite Capital show no payments
13
14
217. Public statements and media interviews by relevant individuals and entities
15
also negate the existence of any legitimate investment by 1MDB, IPIC, or Aabar in Red
16
Granite Pictures. For example, on August 11, 2014, the New York Times published an
17
18
with AZIZ and Red Granite Pictures co-founder Christopher Joey McFarland
19
20
21
investing personal money rather than government funds. This same article appears in the
22
News section of Red Granite Pictures website under the heading Riza Aziz & Joey
23
24
218. In an article published by the New York Times on February 8, 2015, entitled
25
Jho Low, Well Connected in Malaysia, Has an Appetite for New York, an attorney for
26
HUSSEINY is quoted as saying that HUSSEINYs investment in Red Granite was made
27
28
64
219. On April 3, 2016, 1MDB issued a press release, available on its public
website, denying that it had any role in investing, directly or indirectly, in Red Granite
Pictures.
3.
220. Just days after the Red Granite Capital Account received funds from Aabar-
BVI, some of those funds were transferred to an account at Standard Chartered Bank in
Singapore held in the name of Alsen Chance Holdings Limited (Alsen Chance
10
Account). Account opening documents for the Alsen Chance Account list TAN as the
11
director of Alsen Chance. Shortly thereafter, the Alsen Chance Account was used to pay
12
gambling expenses for LOW, TAN, AZIZ, and at least one former official from 1MDB.
13
221. More particularly, on or about June 21, 2012 roughly three days after
14
Aabar-BVI transferred $133,000,000 into AZIZs Red Granite Capital Account AZIZ
15
caused $41,000,000 to be wired from his Red Granite Capital Account to the Alsen
16
Chance Account.
17
222. Roughly three weeks later, on or about July 10, 2012, a wire for
18
$11,000,000 was sent from the Alsen Chance Account to a bank account maintained by
19
Las Vegas Sands, LLC. Among other things, Las Vegas Sands owns and operates the
20
21
22
223. The Venetian Casino used customer account number XXX4296 to identify
23
LOW. On or about July 10, 2012, $11,000,000 was deposited into LOWs account at the
24
Venetian Casino, and records show that LOW gambled there for approximately seven
25
26
224. On or about July 11, 2012, an additional wire of $2,000,000 was sent from
27
the Alsen Chance Account to Las Vegas Sands LLC. The payment details on that wire
28
65
read: TAN KIM LOONG PLAYER NO [XXX]8710. The Venetian Casino Resort
3
4
gambled with LOW on this occasion, using his account. These individuals included
AZIZ; Red Granite Pictures co-founder McFarland; a lead actor in The Wolf of Wall
Street (Hollywood Actor 1); and a former Chief Investment Officer of 1MDB.13
***
226. The use of funds traceable to proceeds of the 2012 1MDB bond sales for
10
11
interests unrelated to the business of 1MDB, as described above and in further detail in
12
Part V below, is not consistent with the intended use of those funds and further
13
demonstrates that funds transferred from 1MDB to the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account were
14
unlawfully diverted.
15
16
17
IV.
18
A.
19
227. As set forth in greater detail in the sections that follow, in 2013, more than
20
$1.26 billion in 1MDB funds that were raised in a third bond offering arranged by
21
22
23
24
misrepresentations and omitted material facts necessary to render its representations not
25
misleading regarding:
How the proceeds of these bond issuances would be used, and
26
27
13
28
LOW, TAN, AZIZ and McFarland gambled together at the Venetian Casino on
other occasions, including several times in 2014.
66
1
2
issuances, including that 1MDB officials and their associates and relatives
March 2013. Notwithstanding the fact that the stated purpose of these bonds was to
generate proceeds to invest in a joint venture with Aabar called Abu Dhabi Malaysia
Investment Company (ADMIC), more than $1.26 billion in proceeds was diverted to a
bank account held in the name of Tanore Finance Corporation (Tanore Account). As
with the Blackstone Account, TAN was the beneficial owner of record for the Tanore
10
Account. Although the account had no legitimate affiliation with 1MDB or ADMIC,
11
12
229. Funds transferred to the Tanore Account were distributed for the benefit of
13
at least one public official associated with 1MDB. More particularly, very shortly after
14
the bond offering closed, between approximately March 21, 2013, and March 25, 2013,
15
16
17
18
230. 1MDB funds diverted to the Tanore Account were also used by LOW and
19
TAN to purchase artwork for their personal benefit and to purchase an interest in the
20
Park Lane Hotel for the personal benefit of LOW. The disposition of these funds was
21
not consistent with the intended use of the 2013 bond proceeds nor was it made for the
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
B.
IN MARCH 2013, 1MDB ISSUED $3 BILLION IN GOLDMANUNDERWRITTEN BONDS FOR INVESTMENT IN A JOINT
VENTURE WITH AABAR
231. On or about March 12, 2013, 1MDB entered into a 50:50 joint venture with
Aabar known as ADMIC. According to the joint venture agreement (ADMIC
67
to government relationship between the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and
the Parties and the catalytic effect such initiatives are expected to have upon the growth
investment of $3 billion by 1MDB and $3 billion by Aabar. 1MDB and Aabar, as the
two shareholders of the company, were to adopt an investment plan for ADMIC, to
include a five (5) year strategic roadmap for the investment policies of the Company,
10
11
12
open and maintain bank accounts in the name of [ADMIC]. It further provides that
13
[a]ll monies of [ADMIC], and all instruments for the payment of money to [ADMIC],
14
15
234. The joint venture agreement was signed by QUBAISI, as the Chairman of
16
Aabar, and by the Chairman of 1MDBs Board of Directors; and it was witnessed by
17
HUSSEINY, the CEO of Aabar, and by 1MDB OFFICER 2, the CEO of 1MDB. Aabar
18
appointed QUBAISI as a director of ADMIC and 1MDB appointed its Chief Financial
19
Officer.
20
21
Goldmans assistance to finance its capital contribution to the planned joint venture
22
through privately placed debt securities. 1MDB OFFICER 3 served as a main point of
23
24
25
26
27
28
14
contact between 1MDB and Goldman on this deal. Within Goldman, this bond
236. In a March 2013 presentation prepared for 1MDB, IPIC, and Aabar in
connection with the deal, Goldman set forth its understanding of 1MDBs key
237. 1MDB issued approximately $3 billion in bonds through its third private
placement with Goldman. The closing date for the bond issue was March 19, 2013. The
notes had a 4.4% interest rate and were redeemable in 2023. The offering circular, dated
10
March 16, 2013, listed the net proceeds of the bond sale, once Goldmans fees,
11
12
bonds were issued by 1MDB Global Investments Limited (1MDB Global), a wholly-
13
owned subsidiary of 1MDB that was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on March
14
8, 2013.
15
16
14, 2013, in connection with the Project Catalyze transaction. That Letter of Support
17
provided, among other things, that if 1MDB failed to provide adequate capital to ensure
18
that 1MDB Global was able to service its obligations with respect to the bonds, Malaysia
19
would then step-in to inject the necessary capital into the Issuer or make payments to
20
ensure the Issuers obligation in respect of the Debt are fully met. The Letter of
21
Support also indicated that, [t]o the fullest extent permitted by law, Malaysia would
22
waive its sovereign immunity and submit itself to the jurisdiction of English courts in
23
connection with disputes arising out of the letter. The letter is signed by MALAYSIAN
24
OFFICIAL 1.
25
239. The offering circular represents that 1MDB Global intended to either on-
26
lend all of the net proceeds of this Offering to ADMIC or use the net proceeds of the
27
offering to fund its investment in ADMIC, which will be a 50:50 joint venture between
28
the Issuer and Aabar. The offering circular noted that ADMIC has yet to adopt a
69
ADMIC does not have any specific investment, merger, stock exchange, asset
contemplation and ADMIC has not, nor has anyone on ADMICs behalf, contacted, or
been contacted by, any potential target investment or had any discussions, formal or
otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. The circular goes on to note that,
ADMIC does not currently have an investment plan or investment criteria in place. The
investment plan, and any future investments, will be made with the mutual agreement of
10
11
12
proceeds from the US$3 billion capital raised will be utilised for investments in strategic
13
and important high-impact projects like energy and strategic real estate which are vital to
14
the long term-economic [sic] growth of both countries. The press release gave, as an
15
example of a future investment project, the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX). The Tun
16
17
18
19
being used to fund ADMIC, more than $1.26 billion in bond proceeds from the 2013
20
bond offering were diverted to unrelated overseas shell company accounts, including the
21
Tanore Account at Falcon Bank in Singapore and an account opened in the name of
22
23
242. The offering circular also omitted material facts necessary to makes it
24
representations regarding the use of the bond proceeds not misleading, in that it failed to
25
26
1, would receive hundreds of millions of dollars from the proceeds of the bond sale
27
within days of its closing. This fact would have been material to the bond transaction, as
28
it would have alerted investors to the possibility of conflicts of interest and related-party
70
transactions. The representation that ADMIC had not determined how all of the bond
proceeds would be used did not encompass using those funds, beginning almost
immediately after the bond issue, for the personal benefit of individuals related to 1MDB
5
6
7
8
9
C.
243. Notwithstanding the fact that 1MDB represented in the offering circular and
its press release that the proceeds of the 2013 bond sale would be used to fund ADMIC,
10
more than $1.26 billion was diverted from the proceeds of the 2013 bond sale through
11
bank accounts controlled by TAN and held in the name of various entities, including
12
Tanore Finance Corporation and Granton Property Holdings. This approximately $1.26
13
billion in funds was neither lent to ADMIC nor used to fund 1MDBs investment in
14
ADMIC, as represented in the bond offering circular, but instead was held and used for
15
the benefit of LOW and his associates, including public officials of 1MDB.
16
17
proceeds of the bond sale, was transferred from Bank of New York Mellon into the BSI
18
19
$226,750,000. The payments details listed in both SWIFT messages indicate, in relevant
20
21
individual whose name appears in Good Stars corporate records, as noted in Paragraph
22
45 above. At the time of the wire transfers to 1MDB Global, SINGAPORE BANKER 1
23
24
245. Between May 21 and 27, 2013, 1MDB Global transferred a total of
25
$1,590,000,000 from its account at BSI Lugano to accounts belonging to three different
26
27
located in the British Virgin Islands; Enterprise, a fund located in Curacao; and
28
Funds). This money was routed via the clearing company Citco, before being
Paragraphs 172-176 above, two of these three funds, Cistenique and Enterprise, were
used in 2012 to pass funds traceable to the Project Maximus bond proceeds from Aabar-
BVI to Blackstone.
6
7
8
9
246. The approximate dates and aggregated amounts of these transfers from
1MDB Global to the three Overseas Investments Funds, via Citco, are set forth below:
Table 9: Wire Transfers from 1MDB Global to Overseas Investment Funds
Dates
Sending Party
Receiving Party
Amount
10
3/21/2013
1MDB Global
Devonshire
$646,464,649
11
Enterprise
$414,756,416
12
Cistenique
$531,090,534
13
14
247. Within approximately two days after 1MDB Global began its transfer of
15
more than $1.5 billion to the Overseas Investment Funds, the Overseas Investment Funds
16
17
dates and amounts of these wires, which passed through a correspondent bank account at
18
19
3/21/2013
Sending
Party
Devonshire
23
3/22/2013
Enterprise
24
3/22/2013
Cistenique
20
21
Date
22
25
Sending Party
Bank
BSI Bank Singapore
ING Bank Netherlands
ING Bank
Netherlands
26
27
28
72
$210,000,000
Tanore
$250,000,000
Tanore
$375,000,000
248. TAN opened the Tanore Account on or about November 2, 2012, and he
1
2
was originally its sole authorized signatory. Bank records list HUSSEINY as the
4
5
Tanore Account from the Overseas Investment Funds, 1MDB OFFICER 3 was given
signing authority on the Tanore Account through the execution of a Power of Attorney
9
10
Overseas Investment Funds, beginning on or about March 21, 2013, were the first credits
11
12
13
$430,000,000 to the Granton Account. Account opening documents for the Granton
14
Account were signed by TAN. The $430,000,000 wire from Devonshire was processed
15
through a U.S. correspondent bank account at J.P. Morgan Chase, and bank statements
16
17
18
$430,000,000 the same amount received from Devonshire to the Tanore Account.
19
As set forth above, the Tanore Account and the Granton Account have the same
20
21
22
23
24
different legal entities but having the same stated beneficial owner had no legitimate
25
26
transactions to obscure the nature, source, location, ownership and/or control of the
27
funds.
28
73
255. The transfer of 1MDB funds through the Overseas Investment Funds to the
Tanore and Granton Accounts could not have been accomplished without the
256. Bank statements for the Tanore Account demonstrate that funds transferred
ADMIC or used for investment purposes with any apparent legitimate business
257. Instead, funds from the Tanore Account were sent to an account belonging
to MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1, and were also used by TAN and LOW to purchase art.
10
Funds from the Tanore Account were also used by LOW to acquire a substantial interest
11
in a luxury hotel in New York City. These uses were inconsistent with the intended
12
purpose of the bond proceeds as set forth in the offering circular and the April 23, 2013,
13
14
258. The execution of various SWIFT instructions and other transfer directions,
15
16
connection with the diversion of more than $1 billion in funds from 1MDB through the
17
Overseas Investment Funds to the Tanore Account, would have been difficult to execute
18
within such a short period of time, i.e., within days of the bond closing date, without
19
advance planning. The plan to divert proceeds of the Project Catalyze bond offering to
20
the Tanore Account pre-dated the March 19, 2013, bond offering.
21
22
23
24
25
D.
259. Shortly after proceeds of the 2013 bond sale were diverted to the Tanore
26
Account, $681,000,000 was sent from the Tanore Account to a bank account belonging
27
to MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1.
28
74
from the Tanore Account to the same account at AmBank, for a total of $681,000,000.
account that in 2011 received $20 million from the PETROSAUDI CO-FOUNDER that
was traceable to the Good Star Account, as set forth in Section II.G. It is also the same
account that in 2012 received at least $30 million from the Blackstone Account that was
traceable to the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account and the 2012 bond proceeds, as set forth in
10
Section III.E.3.
11
262. On or about August 26, 2013, $620,010,715 was wired from a different
12
account at AmBank to the Tanore Account. This AmBank account also belonged to
13
MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1, and the transfer represented funds from the $681 million
14
15
16
inquiry into the $681 million in payments. In a press release issued on January 26, 2016,
17
the Malaysian Attorney General confirmed that, the sum of USD681 million (RM2.08
18
19
between 22.03.2013 and 10.04.2013, and that, in August 2013, a sum of USD620
20
21
22
personal donation to [MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1] from the Saudi royal family which
23
24
264. Bank records associated with the Tanore Account show that TAN was the
25
beneficial owner of the Tanore Account, from which the $681,000,000 payments to the
26
account of MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1 were made, and that 1MDB OFFICER 3 was
27
added as an authorized signor on the Tanore Account roughly one day before the first
28
75
wire of $620,000,000 was sent from the Tanore Account to the account of
MALAYSIAN OFFICIAL 1.
3
4
E.
6
7
265. Notwithstanding the fact that 1MDB represented in the offering circular that
the proceeds of the 2013 bond sale would be used for ADMIC, funds from the 2013
bond sale that were diverted through the Tanore Account were used to purchase tens of
10
millions of dollars in artwork in the United States. This artwork was acquired for the
11
personal benefit of LOW, TAN and their associates, not for the benefit of 1MDB or
12
ADMIC.
13
14
15
1.
266. In early May 2013, TAN opened an account at Christies Auction House
16
17
auction house with a salesroom in New York. The Christies account opened for Tanore
18
was assigned account number XXX7644. In connection with the opening of this
19
account, TAN submitted a letter to Christies from Falcon Bank in Zurich, which was
20
dated May 8, 2013 and was signed by the Director and Managing Director of the Bank.
21
That letter represented that TAN was the beneficial owner of the Tanore Account.
22
267. On or about May 10, 2013, TAN designated McFarland, co-founder of Red
23
24
corresponded with Christies about Tanores bidding account using his Red Granite
25
26
268. At auctions held in New York on or about May 13, 2013, and May 15,
27
2013, Tanore purchased five works of art for a collective total price of $58,348,750.
28
Specifically, invoices show that at an 11th Hour Charity Sale on May 13, 2013, Tanore
76
purchased an unnamed work by Mark Ryden for $714,000 (Ryden work) and an
Contemporary Evening Sale on May 15, 2013, Tanore purchased Dustheads, by Jean-
Calder (Calder Standing Mobile) for $5,387,750; and Tic Tac Toe, by Alexander
269. On or about June 4, 2013, $58,348,750 was wire transferred from the
Tanore Account at Falcon Bank to an account at J.P. Morgan Chase in the United States
maintained by Christies.
10
270. On or about June 28, 2013, Tanore purchased two works of art in a private
11
sale arranged by Christies: Concetto spaziale, Attese, by Lucio Fontana (the Fontana
12
piece); and Untitled (Yellow and Blue) by Mark Rothko (the Rothko piece). The
13
invoice set forth three alternative payment amounts, depending on when payment was
14
made, including: payment of $7,950,000 by July 5, 2013, and payment of the remaining
15
16
271. On or about July 3, 2013, $7,950,000 was wired from the Tanore Account
17
18
19
at J.P. Morgan Chase. The remittance instructions for both wires contain references to
20
21
22
client representative for Tanore and LOW viewed Tanore and LOW as interchangeable,
23
and the Christies VP believed that LOW was making purchases for his corporate
24
collection. The Christies VP also indicated that McFarland and LOW attended art
25
auctions in New York together and that at those auctions, McFarland would bid for
26
Tanore.
27
28
273. TAN and LOW took deliberate steps to avoid the appearance of an
association between LOW and Tanore in written documentation. For example, on
77
November 1, 2013, LOW was copied on an email exchange between TAN and Christies
employees about art that Tanore had recently purchased. That same day, LOW
responded: Please deal with Eric directly re his works. Dont need to cc me for
skybox, with seating for twelve guests, at upcoming auctions on November 5 and 12. In
connection with this request for a skybox, a Christies employee sent an email to a
colleague stating in relevant part, It better look like Ceasar Palace [sic] in there . . .The
box is almost more important for the client than the art.
10
11
Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale, including a work by Vincent Van Gogh
12
13
But Tanore had difficulty making payments for the purchased works due to concerns
14
raised by the compliance department at Falcon Bank, where Tanore maintained its
15
account. In a November 21, 2013, email to Christies, TAN explained in pertinent part:
16
I had been on the phone with Falcon Bank (for Tanore Finance Corp) on
17
18
19
made recently.
20
21
Nothing of concern, but just that I have to provide answers re when I started
22
being interested in art, intentions for the artworks and going forward the
23
24
25
26
27
276. In an internal email dated December 9, 2013, with the subject line
Tanore, the Christies VP directed another Christies employee to send an email to
28
78
Tanore about its continued failure to make payment for the art purchased on November 5
277. By email dated December 10, 2013, TAN advised two Christies employees
that he spoke to Mr Low and he has agreed to buy the items that I recently auction at
xties n [sic] private sales since he can pay immediately. On or about December 13,
2013, a Christies employee sent TAN an email requesting that he execute the attached
documents confirming that your obligations will be assumed by Mr. Low. Among the
attachments to that email were letter agreements voiding certain purchases that Tanore
had made at the November 5 sale, including the VAN GOGH ARTWORK, and letter
10
agreements for the assignment to LOW of Tanores interest in and payment obligations
11
for those purchases. TAN responded in an email dated December 13, 2013: Please do
12
not have Mr Low in any document. I prefer just me null and void. Thank you.
13
14
15
described above. LOW responded the same day: Please remove any reference to
16
17
279. As noted in Paragraph 435-447 below, LOW ultimately purchased the VAN
18
GOGH ARTWORK for which Tanore was unable to make payment, and he did so using
19
20
21
22
2.
280. TAN gifted several pieces of artwork purchased with funds from the Tanore
23
Account to McFarland and LOW, shortly after he acquired them. These gifts are
24
consistent with his having acting as a nominee to purchase art on behalf of others, using
25
26
281. On or about August 15, 2013, TAN responded to an email chain between
27
McFarland and several Christies employees on which he was copied: Please do not
28
copy me anymore as the Painting has been officially gifted to joey in geneva free port so
79
it is his. The subject line of the email was Re: Mark Ryden work from 11th Hour.
Based on context, the email indicates that TAN was advising Christies that he had gifted
282. On or about September 26, 2013, a Christies employee advised TAN that,
Ed Ruschas studio has reached out to me and asked if we can please let them know
who purchased his work in the 11th Hour auction. TAN responded, copying
McFarland: pls talk to joey, it is now owned by him. McFarland responded further: I
am [the] owner.
283. TAN also purported to gift several pieces of artwork to LOW, including
10
works purchased with funds from the Tanore Account. These gifts of art purchased by
11
Tanore were memorialized in several gift letters. While the body of each letter was
12
identical, each letter referenced a different work or works being gifted, including:
13
Dustheads; the Rothko work; the Fontana Piece; and Tic Tac Toe.
14
284. Each of these gift letters was: (a) dated October 2, 2013, (b) addressed to
15
LOW from TAN and Tanore, and (c) contained the subject line: RE: GIFT OF ART-
16
17
18
19
285. Each letter included representations from TAN that he is the sole 100%
20
beneficial owner of TANORE FINANCE CORP, and that he is the legal and
21
22
23
I wish to gift you ALL of the art-work(s) mentioned in this gift letter in
24
25
all the generosity, support and trust that you have shared with me over the
26
27
and
28
80
1
2
3
4
All the art-work(s) gifted to you should not in any event be construed as an
act of corruption since this is against the Company and/or my principles and
The gift(s) is/are merely a token of appreciation and I am hoping that the
10
gift(s) to you would encourage you to continue with your good work
11
globally.
12
13
288. LOW also procured an additional letter from TAN, dated April 8, 2014,
14
confirming the content of the prior October 2, 2012, Gift Letters. This letter indicated
15
that it was prepared in support of LOWs request for financing from Sothebys Financial
16
Services, for which LOW used certain artwork as collateral (as described further in
17
18
19
20
a.
beneficial owner and indicated that Tanore had been liquidated by him.
b.
21
owner(s) of the artwork listed in the Gift Letters, until immediately prior to each
22
Transfer to LOW.
23
c.
24
the date of this Letter, [LOW] is the sole and absolute owner of the Property, and there
25
is no other person or entity (including Tanore or myself) that has or can claim any
26
27
28
d.
The letter is signed by TAN. LOW also signed the letter as having
1
2
the true nature of financial transactions will sometimes acquire assets through a nominee,
4
5
bid on art and the fact that TAN subsequently gave more than $100 million in art to
LOW for no consideration, Plaintiff alleges that TAN acted as a nominee for LOW when
purchasing art from the Tanore Account to obscure the fact that LOW was acquiring art
9
10
V.
11
291. As set forth below, numerous assets, including the DEFENDANT ASSET,
12
13
represent property derived from proceeds traceable to the foregoing criminal conduct, as
14
15
1957.
16
17
18
19
20
A.
292. Funds traceable to the $700 million wire transfer from 1MDB to the Good
21
Star Account were used to acquire the LERMITAGE PROPERTY, a luxury hotel in
22
23
293. On January 15, 2010, just months after the $700 million wire transfer from
24
1MDB to the Good Star Account, a signed grant deed was filed with the Los Angeles
25
26
27
represented Wynton in the transaction. The purchase and sale agreement stated that in
28
addition to the hotel and a fee simple ownership in the land, Wynton acquired
82
LERMITAGEs business assets, including but not limited to (i) all right, title and
permits and approvals from any governmental or quasi-governmental agency, and (ii) all
right, title and interest and to all names related solely to the ownership and operation of
LERMITAGE and all related goodwill and domain names (LERMITAGE BUSINESS
ASSETS).
294. The final settlement statement for the purchase of the LERMITAGE
$44,800,000.
10
11
12
13
(Chicago Title) was the escrow agent used for the purchase of the LERMITAGE
14
PROPERTY. Taek Szen Low, LOWs brother, signed the transaction documents on
15
behalf of Wynton.
16
17
18
various companies by LOW and his brother, LOW was a member of the Viceroy
19
Groups Board and had participated in several major transactions, including [t]he
20
21
22
298. Likewise, an April 7, 2015, email LOW sent to a Las Vegas casino included
an attachment stating:
23
24
25
stewardship . . . .
26
In another attachment to this same email, LOW confirmed that Jynwel Capital, a
27
company of which he served as the chief executive officer, owned 100 percent of the
28
assets and funds of LOWs family and is not licensed to, and does not manage third
party funds.
299. The settlement statement for the sale of the LERMITAGE PROPERTY as
well as Shearman IOLA Account records show that, on or about December 21, 2009, a
$10,000,000 deposit was made for the purchase of the LERMITAGE PROPERTY and
that the amount due from the seller at closing, on or about January 15, 2010, was
$36,700,000.
300. J.P. Morgan correspondent bank records and Shearman IOLA Account
records show that the Shearman IOLA Account was used to purchase the LERMITAGE
10
PROPERTY. Below is a summary of the credits into and debits from the Shearman
11
12
Table 11: Transfers Through the Shearman IOLA Account Related to the
the LERMITAGE PROPERTY
13
14
15
Date
IOLA Account
IOLA Account
16
From
Amount
17
Good
Star
Account
$148,000,000
18
10/21/09
Amount
19
20
$10,000,000
12/21/09
21
22
$36,700,000
1/14/10
To
Chicago Title
Escrow
Account
Chicago Title
Escrow
Account
23
24
301. Shearman internal records show that Shearman segregated its funds into
25
different internal account numbers and client and matter numbers. Internal Shearman
26
records show that each of the transactions set forth above were linked to internal
27
Shearman accounts held for client 36853 (The Wynton Group) and matter 4 (Park
28
Laurel).
84
302. On January 14, 2010, $36,700,000, representing the balance of the purchase
price for the LERMITAGE PROPERTY, was wired from the Shearman IOLA Account
303. J.P. Morgan correspondent bank records and Shearman IOLA Account
records show that on or about January 20, 2010, approximately $117 million was wired
from the Good Star Account to the Shearman IOLA Account. The notations on the wire
transfer state in part: C. STAKE V.H. (USD 15M) D. VICEROY ST. M.H(USD
10M). On or about March 3, 2010, $35,059,875 in additional funds was wired from the
Good Star Account to the Shearman IOLA Account. The notations on the wire transfer
10
11
Delaware Secretary of State records show that Wynton changed its name
12
to LBH Real Estate (Beverly Hills) LLC on November 4, 2013. In a document filed
13
with the State of California in connection with this name change, Li Lin Seet signed as
14
the LBH Real Estate (Beverly Hills) LLCs manager. Li Lin Seet was an associate of
15
16
305. On or about March 27, 2015, a grant deed transferring ownership of the
17
LERMITAGE PROPERTY from Wynton to LBH Real Estate (Beverly Hills) LLC was
18
signed. This grant deed was filed with the LA Recorders Office, on or about June 26,
19
2015. Title to the LERMITAGE PROPERTY remains in the name of LBH Real Estate
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
B.
306. As set forth below, funds traceable to the $700 million wire transfer from
1MDB to the Good Star Account were used in 2010 to purchase HILLCREST
85
PROPERTY 1 in Beverly Hills, California, and funds traceable to the Aabar-BVI Phase
bond sales were thereafter used to transfer the property from one legal entity to another
signed on May 17, 2010, and filed with the LA Recorders Office on September 30,
2010. Real estate closing documents show that HILLCREST PROPERTY 1 was
8
9
10
LLC, for whom the authorized signer was an attorney with Shearman. The amended
11
escrow instructions state that RGA Group assigned all of its rights under the purchase
12
contract for HILLCREST PROPERTY 1 to 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH) LLC.
13
309. On or about July 27, 2010, a California realtor (California Realtor) sent
14
an email to AZIZs Gmail account with the subject line Hilcrest Important! The
15
16
17
Hi Riza We have received calls from the Sellers lawyer questioning our
18
19
$16,985,342.48 in escrow by Friday . . . and the name of the LLC you will
20
21
22
310. On or about July 28, 2010, AZIZ responded to the California Realtor by
23
email: Spoke to Jho and he will follow-up with you with respect to all that is necessary.
24
Sincerely, Riza.
25
26
311. On or about July 28, 2010, the California Realtors executive assistant, sent
an email to LOW, copying AZIZ. The email read in relevant part:
27
28
86
Good morning Jho -- . . . escrow received and released to the buyer Rizas
to replace the original deposit . . . In addition, escrow still needs to know the
name of the LLC Riza wants to take title under this is extremely urgent as
6
7
312. LOW responded to that email on or about July 28, 2010. His email read in
relevant part: Can u set-up a conf call, so we can all call in jointly with our lawyers
from shearman so we can get up to speed and figure out a solution asap?
10
313. The final buyers statement for the sale of HILLCREST PROPERTY 1
11
shows that three deposits in the amount of $525,000 were made for the purchase of
12
HILLCREST PROPERTY 1 and that the total balance due to escrow at closing was
13
$15,917,189.63.
14
314. The second and third deposits of $525,000 were made to the HILLCREST
15
PROPERTY 1 escrow account from the Shearman IOLA Account on or about July 28,
16
2010, and September 2, 2010. In addition, the remaining balance of $15,917,189.63 was
17
paid to the HILLCREST escrow account from the Shearman IOLA Account on or about
18
19
315. Below is a summary of the credits into and debits from the Shearman IOLA
20
21
ESCROW):
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
87
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6/23/2010
Approximate Amount of
Wire Transfers into
Shearman IOLA Account
From
Amount
Good Star
Account
To
$525,000
HILLCREST
Escrow Account
$525,000
HILLCREST
Escrow Account
$15,917,190
HILLCREST
Escrow Account
$8,600,000
7/28/2010
8
9
8/17/2010
10
8/31/2010
11
12
Good Star
Account
Good Star
Account
$2,800,000
$654,000
9/2/2010
13
14
9/3/2010
Good Star
Account
$8,646,000
9/28/2010
Good Star
Account
$17,999,985
15
16
17
18
9/28/2010
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
316. The notation on the $654,000 wire from the Good Star Account was
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS/PROPERTY PAYMENT FO REXTENSION. The
notation on the September 3, 2010, wire of $8,646,000 from Good Star to the Shearman
IOLA Account was ACQUISITION OF ASSETS/PROPERTY PARTBALANCE
PAYMENT. The notation on the September 28, 2010 wire of $17,999,985 from Good
Star to the Shearman IOLA Account was ACQUISITION OF ASSETS /PROPERTY
(FULL BALANCE PAYMENT + RENOVATION).
28
88
317. 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH) LLC, which was the entity used to take title
an entity incorporated in the Seychelles. On or about July 10, 2012, Great Delight sold
its interest in 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH) LLC to Kreger Trading Inc. (Kreger
Trading) for approximately $12,000,000. AZIZ signed a purchase and sale agreement
8
9
10
318. AZIZ declared himself to be the owner of Kreger Trading in his 2012 U.S.
tax return, a copy of which was obtained from AZIZs accounting firm.
319. AZIZ used funds that had been moved through the Aabar-BVI account to
11
acquire the entity 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH) LLC, and thereby to acquire the
12
13
320. As noted above in paragraph 206, records from Citibank and Red Granite
14
Pictures show that on or about June 20, 2012, $58,500,000 was wire transferred from the
15
Red Granite Capital Account to the Shearman IOLA Account in the United States that
16
held funds on behalf of AZIZ. On or about July 10, 2012, approximately $12,000,000
17
was transferred from the same IOLA Account to an attorney trust account held by
18
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (Sullivan & Cromwell) for the purchase of the entity 912
19
North Hillcrest Road (BH). Sullivan & Cromwell served as counsel to Great Delight in
20
connection with the transfer of ownership over 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH) LLC.
21
Internal Shearman records show that each of these transactions set forth above were
22
linked to internal Shearman accounts held for client 37965 (Riza Aziz).
23
321. On or about August 13, 2013, Sullivan & Cromwell wire transferred
24
25
payment details that contained reference to GREAT DELIGHT LTD. As noted above,
26
ADKMIC is an entity owned by LOW. On or about the same day, $10,500,000 was
27
transferred from the ADKMIC BSI Account to LOWs personal account at BSI Bank in
28
transfer of funds represented a payment from AZIZ to LOW for the purported sale of
HILLCREST PROPERTY 1, through the transfer of ownership over 912 North Hillcrest
through the sale of a holding company (i.e., 912 North Hillcrest Road (BH) LLC) rather
than the direct sale of the property itself as a means to obscure the ownership, source,
8
9
C.
10
ACCOUNT
11
12
323. Funds traceable to the $700 million wire transfer from 1MDB to the Good
13
Star Account were used in 2010 to acquire the PARK LAUREL CONDOMINIUM in
14
New York, New York. The purchase contract for the Park Laurel Condominium listed
15
the ultimate purchaser as Park Laurel (NYC) Ltd., a BVI corporation,15 the final date of
16
sale as February 5, 2010, and the final sales price as $23,980,000. Thereafter, in 2012,
17
18
Park Laurel (NYC) Ltd. for approximately $35,500,000 by using funds traceable to
19
proceeds of the 2012 bond sales that were misappropriated through the Aabar-BVI Swiss
20
Account.
21
324. A real property transfer report filed with the New York City Department of
22
Finance Office of the City Register (NYC Registers Office) states that a contract for
23
the sale of the PARK LAUREL CONDOMINIUM was signed on or about October 27,
24
2009 less than 30 days after the $700 million wire transfer from 1MDB to the Good
25
26
27
28
15
Star Account. The transfer report is signed by an individual affiliated with Ivory
Industrial Investments Ltd. on behalf of the buyer, Park Laurel (NYC) Ltd. The buyers
attorney is identified as the same attorney from Shearman who handled the purchase of
HILLCREST PROPERTY 1. The buyers real estate agent represented that LOW was
the purchaser.
325.
traceable to the $700 million wire transfer from 1MDB to Good Star. J.P. Morgan
correspondent bank records and Shearman IOLA Account records show that on or about
October 21, 2009, $148,000,000 was wired from the Good Star Account to a Shearman
10
IOLA Account. On or about February 5, 2010 the same day as the final sale date listed
11
in the property transfer records four bank checks totaling $22,179,049.82 were written
12
on the Shearman IOLA Account for the purchase of the PARK LAUREL
13
14
notation Funds From Park Laurel Escrow with regards to these four checks. Internal
15
Shearman records show that each of these transactions were linked to internal Shearman
16
accounts held for client 36853 (The Wynton Group) and matter number 4 (Park Laurel).
17
The final settlement statement for this purchase demonstrates that checks totaling
18
19
326.
On or about July 6, 2012, a contract for the sale of the PARK LAUREL
20
CONDOMINIUM was executed between Park Laurel (NYC) Ltd. as the seller, and Park
21
Laurel Acquisition LLC, as the buyer. Shearman represented the buyer, Park Laurel
22
Acquisition LLC, and Sullivan & Cromwell represented the seller, Park Laurel (NYC)
23
Ltd., in connection with this transaction. The sales contract was signed by AZIZ on
24
25
327.
26
Condominium Board for the PARK LAUREL CONDOMINIUM waive its first right of
27
refusal to the transfer of title from Park Laurel (NYC) Ltd. to Park Laurel Acquisition
28
LLC. In that letter, AZIZ represented that he was the sole director of an entity called
91
Sorcem Investments Inc. (Sorcem) and that Sorcem was the sole member of Park
Laurel Acquisition LLC. AZIZ also represented that upon transfer of title, the Unit
shall be occupied by Riza Aziz . . . as if Riza was the individual owner of the Unit.
328. AZIZ claimed ownership of Sorcem in his 2012 U.S. tax return. In those
4
5
returns, Sorcem is listed as having the same Los Angeles address that is listed as AZIZs
address.
329. Title to the PARK LAUREL CONDOMINIUM was transferred from Park
7
8
Laurel (NYC) Ltd. to Park Laurel Acquisition LLC for a purchase price of $33,500,000,
by deed recorded on or about November 28, 2012. AZIZ signed the relevant
10
11
12
AZIZs Red Granite Capital Account at BSI Bank in Singapore to the Shearman IOLA
13
Account in the United States. Thereafter, $34,406,188 was wired from the Shearman
14
IOLA Account to a Sullivan & Cromwell attorney trust account at Citibank on or about
15
November 19, 2012, the date of the closing for the purchase of the PARK LAUREL
16
CONDOMONIUM. That same day, $1,049,126 was wired from the Shearman IOLA
17
Account to Chicago Title Insurance Company for closing costs. According to the
18
contract of sale, Chicago Title Insurance Company was the escrow agent for the PARK
19
LAUREL CONDOMINIUM sale. Shearman records indicate that the client on whose
20
behalf the funds were transferred into and out of the Shearman IOLA Account was
21
AZIZ.
22
331. Citibank records show that on or about November 20, 2013, the day after
23
the closing, $34,406,188 was transferred from the Sullivan & Cromwell attorney trust
24
account to an account at Rothschild Bank AG held in the name of Park Laurel NYC
25
Ltd., the seller of the property. This wire transfer represented payment to LOW for the
26
27
28
92
D.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
332. In 2010, LOW used funds traceable to the $700 million wire transfer from
1MDB to the Good Star Account to acquire the BOMBARDIER JET, a Bombardier
Global 5000 aircraft bearing manufacturer serial number 9265 and registration number
N689WM, with two Rolls Royce engines bearing manufacturers serial numbers 12487
and 12488, for approximately $35,371,335.
333. An aircraft bill of sale dated March 31, 2010, was executed transferring title
and ownership of the BOMBARDIER JET from J.T. Aviation Corp. to Wells Fargo
Bank Northwest in its capacity as owner trustee of a trust created by Wynton Aviation
(Global 5000) Ltd. (hereinafter, Wynton Aviation). Wynton Aviation was
incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on or about December 30, 2009.
334. On or about December 31, 2009, J.T. Aviation Corp. and Wynton Aviation
executed a purchase agreement to sell the BOMBARDIER JET to Wynton Aviation less
than three months after the $700 million wire transfer was executed.
335. At the time of the purchase, the BOMBARDIER JET bore FAA
Registration Number N501JT and its beneficial owner was J.T. Aviation Corp.s
president.
336. Wells Fargo records indicate that Wynton Aviation is a holding company
owned by LOW. According to these records, LOW is this entitys sole beneficial owner,
controlling party, and legal owner.
337. Escrow and transactional documents relating to the sale of the
BOMBARDIER JET show that Crowe and Dunleavy (Crowe), a law firm in
Oklahoma, served as the escrow agent for the purchase of the BOMBARDIER JET.
338.
Shearman IOLA Account received a wire from the Good Star Account for $148,000,000.
Internal Shearman records show that this transfer was linked to an internal Shearman
93
account held for client 36853 (The Wynton Group) and matter 4 (Park Laurel). On or
about January 26, 2010, the Shearman IOLA Account received a wire from the Good
Star Account for $117,000,000. Internal Shearman records show that this transfer was
linked to an internal Shearman account held for client 36853 (The Wynton Group) and
matter 8 (General).
339. On or about December 31, 2009, the same day the purchase agreement for
the sale of the BOMBARDIER JET was executed, a wire for approximately $7 million
was sent from the Shearman IOLA Account to an escrow account maintained by Crowe
at Bank of Oklahoma in the name of Crowe and Dunlevy Aircraft Escrow I (Crowe
10
Aircraft Escrow Account). Internal Shearman records show that the $7,000,000
11
transfer was linked to an internal Shearman account held for client 36853 (The Wynton
12
13
340. On or about March 26, 2010, Wynton Aviation and Wells Fargo Bank
14
Northwest, N.A. (Wells Fargo) entered into a trust agreement whereby Wells Fargo
15
agreed to serve as the Owner Trustee over a trust settled by Wynton Aviation for the
16
purpose of ensur[ing] the eligibility of [the BOMBARDIER JET] for United States
17
18
341. On or about March 29, 2010, a wire for $28,376,000 was sent from the
19
Shearman IOLA Account to the Crowe Aircraft Escrow Account at Bank of Oklahoma.
20
Internal Shearman records show that the $28.376 million transfer was linked to an
21
internal Shearman account held for client 36853 (The Wynton Group) and matter 8
22
(General).
23
342. On or about March 31, 2010, a wire for $35,371,375 was sent from the
24
Crowe Aircraft Escrow Account to an account at Citibank in the name of the seller.
25
343. On or about April 2, 2010, the FAA issued a Certificate of Registration and
26
Assignment of Special Registration Numbers Form to Wells Fargo, indicating that the
27
BOMBARDIER JETs new FAA Registration Number and tail number would be
28
N689WM.
94
E.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
344. As set forth below, funds traceable to the approximately $1 billion diverted
from 1MDB to the Good Star Account were used to purchase the TIME WARNER
PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER STORAGE UNIT, in New York, New York.
345. Contracts for the sale of the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME
WARNER STORAGE UNIT were signed on or about March 22, 2011. A transfer report
filed with the City of New York listed the ultimate purchaser as 80 Columbus Circle
(NYC) LLC,16 the final date of sale as July 6, 2011, and the final sales price as
$30,550,000. Shearman represented 80 Columbus Circle (NYC) LLC in the purchase of
the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER STORAGE UNIT. The sales
contract and amendments thereto show that Harvey & Hackett was the escrow agent for
the purchase of the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER STORAGE
UNIT. As set forth below, the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER
STORAGE UNIT were purchased with funds traceable to the $700 million wire transfer
and $330 million wire transfers from 1MDB to Good Star.
346.
On or about June 28, 2011, $55,000,000 was wire transferred from the
Good Star Account to the ADKMIC BSI Account. On or about the same day, the
following transactions occurred: (i) approximately $54,750,000 was wire transferred
from the ADKMIC BSI Account to an account at BSI Bank held in the name of Low
Hock Peng, a/k/a Larry Low, who is LOWs father, (the LHP Account) and (ii)
24
25
26
27
28
16
approximately $30,000,000 was wire transferred from the LHP Account to an account in
BSI Bank in Singapore that he was the beneficial owner of Selune Ltd.
347. Internal Shearman records show that approximately eight days later, on or
about July 5, 2011, a wire for $27,000,000 was sent from another account at Rothschild
Bank AG in the name of 1/80 Columbus Circle (NYC) to the Shearman IOLA Account.
Plaintiff alleges that these funds originated from Selunes account at Rothschild Bank
AG and were transferred to the 1/80 Columbus Circle account using an intra-bank
transfer. Internal Shearman records show that this $27,000,000 wire transfer was linked
10
11
INVESTMENT MATTERS) and matter 6, which was associated with the address of the
12
13
348. Six bank checks totaling $27,247,677.74 were written on the Shearman
14
IOLA Account and directed to various parties involved in the purchase of the TIME
15
16
records show that these checks were linked to an internal Shearman account held for the
17
same client and matter associated with the incoming wire of $27,000,000 discussed
18
above. Specifically:
19
a.
A check for $534,625 and a second check for $687,375, both dated
20
July 5, 2011, were written on the Shearman IOLA Account to Prudential Douglas
21
Elliman. The final settlement statement shows that $534,625 and $687,375 were
22
separate line items that were owed to the realtors as a brokers fee.
23
b.
A check for $17,750 dated July 5, 2011 was written on the Shearman
24
IOLA Account to New York State Sales Tax. The final settlement statement shows that
25
26
c.
27
Shearman IOLA Account to J.P. Morgan Chase. The final settlement statement shows
28
that $15,778,071.79 was owed to J.P. Morgan Chase, N.A. to pay off a mortgage loan
96
owed by the former owner of the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER
STORAGE UNIT.
d.
for $103.20, dated July 11, 2011, was written on the Shearman IOLA Account to the
former owner of the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER STORAGE
UNIT. Real estate closing documents show that the former owner signed as the seller of
all of the personalty, namely, the furniture, furnishings, and non-fixture items, sold
10
Shearman IOLA Account to Chicago Title Insurance Company. The final settlement
11
statement shows that $400,221.06 is the sum of all title charges involved in the purchase.
12
Chicago Title Insurance Company was the title agent on this purchase.
13
349. A Notice to the Board of Intention to Sell or Lease Condominium Unit was
14
completed in connection with the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER
15
STORAGE UNIT. The signed notices for both the TIME WARNER PENTHOUSE and
16
TIME WARNER STORAGE UNIT identified Low Hock Peng, also known as Larry
17
Low, LOWs father, as the occupant of the units. However, an unsigned version of this
18
notice dated May 15, 2011, identifies that LOW is the ultimate beneficial owner of each
19
20
21
PENTHOUSE and TIME WARNER STORAGE UNIT, LOW was the intended
22
occupant of the apartment, and Larry Low never even viewed the apartment before the
23
purchase.
24
25
26
27
28
97
1
2
F.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
98
Ltd. at Rothschild Bank AG in Switzerland. As set forth above in paragraph 346, LOW
357. Bank of America records show that on or about November 29, 2012,
$37,882,800 was wired from an account at Rothschild Bank AG in the name of 1/Oriole
Drive (LA) LLC, to an account at Bank of America in the name of Chicago Title.
X5TITLE OFFICER[]. The wire instructions for the sale of ORIOLE MANSION
required that $37,859,200 be sent to a Bank of America account in the name of Chicago
Title Company with a reference for [XXX]0584-994-X59 Title Officer[]. The escrow
10
11
November 29, 2012 at 11:22 p.m., that the title company had received the wire sufficient
12
for closing. Records from the escrow agent demonstrate that $1,849 was later credited
13
14
15
16
17
G.
358. The GREENE CONDOMINIUM, located in New York, New York, was
18
purchased with funds traceable to the $700 million wire transfer and $330 million wire
19
20
359. A real property transfer report was filed regarding the sale of GREENE
21
CONDOMINIUM on or about March 5, 2014. The transfer report states that a contract
22
for the purchase of the GREENE CONDOMINIUM by 118 Greene Street (NYC) LLC, a
23
New York legal entity, was signed on or about February 5, 2014, that the final date of
24
sale was February 27, 2014, and that the final purchase price was $13,800,000.
25
26
transferred from the Good Star Account to the ADKMIC BSI Account. On or about
27
November 5, 2012, $153 million was transferred from the ADKMIC BSI Account to the
28
LHP Account. Two days later, on or about November 7, 2012, approximately $150
99
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 100 of 136 Page ID #:100
million was transferred from the LHP Account to the LOW BSI Account. That same
day, approximately $110 million was wired from the LOW BSI Account to an account in
the name of Selune, Ltd. which, as set forth above, belongs to LOW. This transaction
361. Citibank records show that on or about February 5, 2014, $13,800,000 was
wired from the LOW BSI Account to an account at Citibank in the name of DLA Piper.
On or about February 12, 2014, a wire in the amount of $13,721,286 was sent from DLA
Piper to Chicago Title. The payment details for that wire included the address for the
GREENE CONDOMINIUM.
10
11
362. According to a realtor familiar with this property, LOW claimed that he was
the owner of this property.
12
13
14
15
16
H.
17
funds traceable to the Good Star Account to acquire a substantial interest in EMI Music
18
Publishing Group North America Holdings Inc. (EMI), a music publishing company.
19
Specifically, LOW used these funds to acquire an interest in an entity called Nile
20
Acquisition Holding Company Ltd. (EMI Partner A), a Cayman Islands entity that
21
partnered with Nile Acquisition LLC (EMI Partner B), a Delaware entity, to form DH
22
23
24
25
and EMI Partner B with the express purpose of acquiring EMI Group Global Limiteds
26
27
28
the Government of Abu Dhabi, and (ii) JCL Media (EMI Publishing) Ltd. (also known
100
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 101 of 136 Page ID #:101
as JW Nile (BVI) Ltd.) (LOW EMI Partner), a subsidiary of Jynwel Capital Ltd.,
LOWs financial services firm based in Hong Kong. The LOW EMI Partner was formed
in the British Virgin Islands on or about November 7, 2011. EMI Partner B is owned
jointly by Sony Music Holdings, a New York corporation, and the Estate of Michael
Jackson.
into a sale and purchase agreement with EMI Group Global Limited, a United Kingdom
10
366. Simultaneously with this acquisition, the EMI Partnership entered into an
11
12
Under the Administration Agreement, Sony/ATV agreed to manage EMIs day to day
13
14
15
367. EMI is the worlds third largest music publishing company by revenue.
16
EMI owns or possesses the rights to publish approximately 2.3 million musical
17
compositions, both historic and recent, from a variety of genres and a variety of
18
19
368. In connection with its vast music catalog, EMI generates revenue from
20
several sources including, among others: (i) royalties and fees earned when its songs are
21
performed publicly; (ii) royalties from paid-streaming services; (iii) royalties and fees
22
earned in exchange for the right to use songs for physical recordings or digital
23
downloads; (iv) royalties and fees paid for use of music in timed synchronization with
24
visual images; and (v) royalties and fees paid for use of a song in stage productions, and
25
26
27
28
1.
369. EMI Partner A was formed on or about September 29, 2011, in the Cayman
Islands. Initially, EMI Partner As sole shareholder was Fifty Sixth Investment
101
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 102 of 136 Page ID #:102
Company Ltd., an entity based in Abu Dhabi. In June 2012, Fifty Sixth Investment
370. On or about June 29, 2012, several entities agreed to subscribe for ordinary
entities included: (i) Nile Cayman Holding Ltd. (the Mubadala Subsidiary), an entity
owned by Mubadala; (ii) Pub West LLC, a Delaware company; (iii) GSO Capital
Offshore Funding (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l.; (v) GSO SJ Partners LP; and (vi) the LOW
10
11
EMI Partner.
371. An internal EMI document described the LOW EMI Partner as follows:
12
13
Jynwel Capital Limited, an investment and advisory firm whose chief executive
14
15
16
[EMI] that [LOW EMI Partner] is owned by trusts for the benefit of the Low
17
family.
18
19
20
21
22
$320,000,000.
23
b.
24
25
$106,666,667. Li Lin Seet executed the EMI Investment Agreement on behalf of the
26
27
28
102
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 103 of 136 Page ID #:103
c.
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
was authorized to play a role in the management and operations of EMI through its
16
ownership stake in EMI Partner A. Specifically, for instance, the EMI Investment
17
Agreement provides that the LOW EMI Partner may participate in selecting two of EMI
18
19
374. Additionally, under the EMI Investment Agreement, the single largest
20
individual shareholder within the LOW EMI Partner (the LOW EMI Principal
21
Shareholder) is permitted to play a role in selecting key EMI officials, including EMI
22
Partner As chief executive officer, EMI Partner As general counsel, EMI Partner As
23
chief financial officer as well as the EMI Partnerships officers. According to internal
24
records from Bank of New York Mellon, where the LOW EMI Partner opened a bank
25
26
27
28
17
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 104 of 136 Page ID #:104
account, the LOW EMI Partner is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jynwel Capital Ltd.,
375. Additionally, the LOW EMI Principal Shareholder is permitted in his sole
discretion to select the EMI Partnerships Non-Executive Chairman Asia. This official
attend ceremonial events relating to [EMI] and any other related music industry public
events that may be relevant to [EMI], in each case, to which all members of the board of
10
11
12
various companies by LOW as recently as February 2015, LOW serves as the Non-
13
executive Chairman, Asia, for EMI Music Publishing, [and is] also serving as a member
14
of [EMIs] advisory board. According to this same document, LOW led recent
15
transactions and advised the Low family investment trusts including one relating to a
16
17
18
377. The proceeds of the share purchases described in Paragraph 372 above were
19
used by EMI Partner A to, among other things, make capital contributions to the EMI
20
21
calculated based upon its percentage of ownership of the partnerships Class A Units.
22
23
Agreement of D.H. Publishing L.P., dated March 7, 2014, EMI Partner A made a capital
24
25
the EMI Partnerships Class A Units. Likewise, EMI Partner B made a capital
26
27
28
104
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 105 of 136 Page ID #:105
2.
$120,000,000 in funds were wired from the Good Star Account to the ADKMIC BSI
Account via a correspondent bank account in the United States at J.P. Morgan.
379. On or about June 11, 2012, a wire of approximately $120,000,000 was sent
from the ADKMIC BSI Account to the LHP Account. That same day, (i) a wire for
$118,000,000 was transmitted from the LHP Account to LOWs personal account at BSI
Bank; (ii) a wire for $115 million was sent from LOWs personal account at BSI Bank to
an account in the name of Jynwel Capital at BSI Bank (Jynwel Account A); (iii) a wire
10
for $115 million was sent from Jynwel Account A to another account also maintained in
11
the name of Jynwel Capital (Jynwel Accont B) at BSI Bank; and (iv) a wire for $110
12
million was sent from Jynwel Account B to an account in the name of the LOW EMI
13
14
380. On or about June 13, 2012, an escrow account was opened by LOW EMI
15
Partner with Bank of New York Mellon (the EMI Escrow Account) in the United
16
States. The account opening documents were signed by Li Lin Seet, who identified
17
himself as LOW EMI Partners director. The opening records also confirm that LOW is
18
the 100[%] (ultimate) owner of the LOW EMI Partner and that Jynwel Capital Ltd. is
19
20
381. On June 26, 2012, a wire for $320,000,000 was sent from Mubadala
21
Treasury Holding Co. LLCs account at First Gulf Bank in Abu Dhabi to the EMI
22
Escrow Account. A notation on the wire instructions indicated that the funds were
23
24
As noted above at Paragraph 363, NILE ACQUISTION HOLDING LTD is the name
25
of EMI Partner A. Furthermore, as noted above at Paragraph 372, pursuant to the EMI
26
Investment Agreement, Mubadala agreed to acquire its interest in EMI Partner A for
27
$320,000,000.
28
105
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 106 of 136 Page ID #:106
382. That same day, a wire for $106,666,667 was sent from the LOW EMI
Account to the EMI Escrow Account. A notation on this wire also read NILE
372, pursuant to the EMI Investment Agreement, the LOW EMI Partner agreed to
383. Upon information and belief, the funds transferred by LOW into the EMI
Escrow Account were used to acquire the LOW EMI Partners interest in EMI Partner A
and were transmitted in a manner intended to conceal the origin, source, and ownership
of criminal proceeds, based on the following facts and circumstances, among others:
10
a.
11
entities on or about the same day in an unnecessarily complex manner with no apparent
12
business purpose.
13
b.
14
would layer his transaction by funneling the exact same amount of money through six
15
different bank accounts at the same financial institution on or about the same day.
16
17
18
c.
often pass money through intermediary accounts to conceal the true source of the funds.
d.
19
20
represented that family resources were a significant source of his wealth. By funneling
21
money through his fathers account for a brief period of time, LOW created the
22
appearance that funds in his personal account, which were used to acquire an interest in
23
EMI Partner A, came from his father rather than from Good Star or ADKMIC.
24
384. Upon information and belief, at the time LOW transferred misappropriated
25
funds from his LOW EMI Partner account in Singapore to the EMI Escrow Account, he
26
knew those funds constituted misappropriated funds and intended to deprive 1MDB of
27
28
106
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 107 of 136 Page ID #:107
I.
4
5
1.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
385. As set forth below, funds from the Good Star Account were transferred into
and through various bank accounts at City National Bank in Los Angeles associated with
Red Granite Pictures, and that money was ultimately used to fund the production of The
Wolf of Wall Street, a motion picture produced by Red Granite Pictures and released in
the United States on December 25, 2013. These funds are directly traceable to the $700
million wire transfer and $330 million wire transfers unlawfully diverted from 1MDB to
the Good Star Account.
386. As set forth above in Sections II.D and II.F, approximately $1.03 billion
was diverted from 1MDB to the Good Star Account between approximately September
30, 2009 and October 25, 2011.
387. Bank account records from City National Bank and correspondent bank
records from J.P. Morgan Chase show that two wires totaling $10,173,104 were sent
from the Good Star Account to a bank account at City National Bank in Los Angeles that
was designated as the Operating Account for Red Granite Pictures (RGP Operating
Account). AZIZ is a signatory on this account.
388. More specifically, first, on or about April 12, 2011, a wire for $1,173,104
was sent from Good Star to the RGP Operating Account. The notation on this wire read:
INVESTOR ADVANCES OF USD 1 173 104 OUT OF USD 5 000 000 to RED
GRANITE (MOVIES). Second, on or about September 10, 2012, a wire for
approximately $9,000,000 was sent from Good Star to the RGP Operating Account. The
notation on this wire read: ADVANCES FOR WOLF OF WALL STREET MOVIE
FOR ACHL.
107
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389. On or about September 11, 2012, one day after this second wire transfer,
approximately $9,015,191 was transferred from the RGP Operating Account to another
City National Bank account held in the name of Red Granite Pictures (RGP Pictures
Account). On or about September 12, 2012, the same amount $9,015,191 was
transferred from the RGP Pictures Account to yet another account at City National Bank
390. TWOWS is an acronym for The Wolf of Wall Street, and TWOWS
LLC was a special purpose vehicle (SPV) created by Red Granite Pictures to produce
The Wolf of Wall Street. Delaware state records show that TWOWS LLC was formed
10
on or about April 16, 2012, and California state records show that AZIZ is one of the
11
entitys managers. It is common in the film industry to create an SPV, such as a limited
12
liability corporation, for the purpose of producing a film. It is also common to open a
13
separate bank account or accounts in the name of that SPV and to use the funds in that
14
15
391. City National Bank records show that the TWOWS Account #1 was used to
16
pay expenses associated with the production of The Wolf of Wall Street. In or around
17
April 2013, the TWOWS Account #1 was closed and the balance of the funds transferred
18
to another account at City National Bank also held in the name of TWOWS LLC
19
(hereinafter, TWOWS Account #2). The TWOWS Account #2 was also used to pay
20
expenses associated with the production of The Wolf of Wall Street. Collectively,
21
22
392. The TWOWS Accounts, in which funds traceable to the Good Star Account
23
were deposited, were used to pay for production expenses including, but not limited to,
24
the following: (i) between April 2013 and February 2014, 17 payments totaling
25
26
company belonging to the films director; (ii) between May 2012 and April 2014, at least
27
$48 million was paid to a company that specializes in managing payroll and production
28
expenses for the film industry; (iii) between July 2012 and May 2014, at least $4.1
108
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 109 of 136 Page ID #:109
million was paid to various visual effects companies; (iv) between May 2012 and April
2014, approximately $2.5 million was paid to the Screen Actors Guild; and (v)
393. LOW, who distributed more than $10 million to Red Granite Pictures from
the Good Star Account, received a special thanks full-screen credit in the closing
394. In his acceptance speech upon winning a Golden Globe for his role in The
Wolf of Wall Street, Hollywood Actor 1 thanked the entire production team, singling
out in particular Joey, Riz, and Jho, whom he characterized as collaborators on the
10
film. Upon information and belief, this reference was to Joey McFarland, a co-founder
11
12
395. During at least part of the time during which the above-referenced transfers
13
were made, LOW maintained a Red Granite email account with the domain name
14
15
2.
16
Account Were Used to Fund Red Granite Pictures and The Wolf of
17
Wall Street
18
396. Red Granite Pictures, and its production of The Wolf of Wall Street in
19
particular, were also funded with money traceable to the proceeds of the 2012 bond sales
20
21
397. As set forth in Paragraph 203 above, between June 18, 2012, and November
22
14, 2012, $238,000,000 in funds traceable to the diverted proceeds of the 2012 1MDB
23
bond sales was transferred from Aabar-BVI to AZIZs Red Granite Capital Account at
24
25
398. Between on or about June 20, 2012 roughly two days after Aabar-BVI
26
sent its first wire to Red Granite Capital and November 20, 2012, eleven wires totaling
27
$64,000,000 were sent from AZIZs Red Granite Capital Account in Singapore to the
28
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 110 of 136 Page ID #:110
399. Shortly after each of these eleven wires, Red Granite Capital transferred
funds from its Operating Account to the RGP Pictures Account. Between on or about
June 26, 2012 and November 20, 2012, a total of $54,797,321 was transferred from the
400. In a series of nine transfers between approximately June 27, 2012, and
November 23, 2012, $52,004,162 of this $54,797,321 was then transferred from the RGP
Pictures Account to the TWOWS Account #1, which, as noted above, belonged to the
401. The movement of funds from the Red Granite Capital Account in Singapore
10
through various accounts associated with Red Granite Pictures to the TWOWS Account
11
#1 occurred in very close succession. For example, in one series of transfers all
12
occurring on or about August 10, 2012: (i) $3,000,000 was sent from the Red Granite
13
Capital Account to the RGP Operating Account; (ii) $2,831,754 was sent from the Red
14
Granite Operating Account to the RGP Pictures Account; and (iii) $2,831,754 was sent
15
16
17
18
19
J.
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
402. LOW laundered more than $200 million in misappropriated funds traceable
to the 2013 bond sale into an account in the United States belonging to the law firm DLA
Piper. LOW and his brother Low Taek Szen (Szen) used those funds to acquire an
interest in an entity called Symphony CP (Park Lane) LLC (hereinafter, the Park
Lane Partnership or the Partnership), a limited liability partnership between the New
York real estate development company Witkoff Group and an investment entity
controlled by LOW. On or about November 25, 2013, the Park Lane Partnership,
28
110
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 111 of 136 Page ID #:111
through wholly-owned subsidiaries, acquired 36 Central Park South, New York, New
York, 10019, also known as the Park Lane Hotel, for approximately $654,316,305.
1.
1MDB through its March 19, 2013 bond issue was transferred to the Tanore Account at
Falcon Bank in Singapore, after being routed through one of three Overseas Investment
Funds.
8
9
10
11
Tanore (that is, March 25, 2013), Granton wired $378,000,000 to an account at RBS
12
Coutts in Switzerland held in the name of Dragon Market Limited (Dragon Market).
13
LOW is the beneficial owner of this account. In early November 2013, two additional
14
wires were sent from the Granton Account to the RBS Coutts account belonging to
15
Dragon Market (Dragon Market Account). All three wires were processed through a
16
U.S. correspondent bank account at J.P. Morgan Chase. The approximate dates and
17
18
19
Date
Sending Party
Receiving Party
Amount
21
3/25/2013
Granton
Dragon Market
$378,000,000
22
11/05/2013
Granton
Dragon Market
$93,300,000
23
11/06/2013
Granton
Dragon Market
$47,200,000
20
24
406. Between on or about April 25, 2013, and November 8, 2013, four wires
25
totaling $476,300,000 were sent from the Dragon Market Account at RBS Coutts to an
26
account at BSI Bank in Singapore held in the name of Dragon Dynasty Limited
27
(Dragon Dynasty). These four wires were processed through a U.S. correspondent
28
111
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 112 of 136 Page ID #:112
bank account at J.P. Morgan Chase. The approximate dates and amounts of these wires
Table 14: Relevant Wire Transfers from Dragon Market to Dragon Dynasty
4
5
6
7
8
Date
Sending Party
Receiving Party
Amount
Dragon Dynasty
$98,000,000
7/5/2013
Dragon Market
Dragon Dynasty
$120,000,000
Dragon Dynasty
$9,800,000
Dragon Dynasty
$248,500,000
9
10
407. Account opening documents for the BSI Bank account maintained by
11
Dragon Dynasty (Dragon Dynasty Account) list LOW as the authorized signatory on
12
the account. Those documents also list Dragon Market as the director of Dragon
13
Dynasty.
14
408. On or about November 12, 2013, $248,500,000 was wired from the Dragon
15
Dynasty Account to the LHP Account. On or about the same day that LOWs father
16
received $248,500,000 from Dragon Dynasty, $235,500,000 was wired from the LHP
17
Account to the LOW BSI Account. The wire details for that transfer read: Gift from
18
19
20
21
409. On or about November 12, 2013, $12,500,000 was wired from the LHP
Account to an account at BSI Bank in Singapore belonging to Szen.
410. On or about November 12, 2013, LOW transferred $205,900,000 from his
22
account at BSI to an IOLA account at Citibank New York maintained by DLA Piper
23
(DLA Piper IOLA Account). The payment details on the wire read: LOW TAEK
24
25
411. On or about November 12, 2013, Szen transferred $12,185,189.32 from his
26
account at BSI Bank to the same DLA Piper IOLA Account. The payment details on the
27
28
112
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 113 of 136 Page ID #:113
1
2
3
412. In total, LOW and his brother Szen collectively transferred $218,085,189 to
the same DLA Piper IOLA Account on or about November 12, 2013.
413. Upon information and belief, the funds transferred by LOW and Szen into
the DLA Piper IOLA Account in the United States were moved in a manner intended to
conceal the origin, source, and ownership of criminal proceeds, based on the following
entities on or about the same day in an unnecessarily complex manner with no apparent
business purpose.
b.
10
11
12
Dynasty, another account he controlled, and then to an account belonging to his father,
13
only to have a substantially similar amount of funds transferred from his fathers
14
15
16
often pass money through intermediary accounts to conceal the true source of the funds.
d.
17
18
19
represented that his family was a significant source of his wealth. By passing money
20
through his fathers account for a brief period of time, LOW created the appearance that
21
funds in his personal account, which were used to acquire an interest in the Park Lane
22
Partnership, came from his father rather than from Dragon Market, Granton, and
23
Tanore.
24
414. Upon information and belief, at the time LOW transferred misappropriated
25
funds (i) from his Dragon Market Account to his Dragon Dynasty Account using a
26
correspondent bank account at J.P. Morgan in the United States, and (ii) from his
27
personal account in Singapore to the DLA Piper IOLA Account in the United States, he
28
113
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 114 of 136 Page ID #:114
knew those funds constituted misappropriated funds and intended to deprive 1MDB of
2.
4
5
LOWs Interest in Symphony CP (Park Lane) LLC and the Park Lane
Hotel
415. LOW entered into a limited liability partnership with an affiliate of the
Witkoff Group LLC (Witkoff Group), a New York-based real estate investment and
diverted 1MDB funds to invest in the Park Lane Partnership. The formation of the Park
10
Lane Partnership entailed the creation of numerous legal entities, including many with
11
similar names. LOWs investment interest in the Park Lane Partnership was held
12
13
14
416. The Park Lane Partnership was formed as a Delaware limited liability
15
company with the filing of a Certification of Formation on July 15, 2012, and with the
16
execution of an Operating Agreement dated July 16, 2013. As originally constituted, the
17
18
Group and an entity called Symphony CP Investments LLC, which was designated as the
19
Investor. As of October 25, 2013, LOW, Szen, and Li Lin Seet were designated as the
20
21
Entity I).
22
23
24
25
26
at 36 Central Park South (Park Lane Hotel) and 21 West 58th Street . . . . The
27
Parcels are currently occupied by a 607-room hotel and a 66-unit residential rental
28
building, respectively.
114
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 115 of 136 Page ID #:115
about November 25, 2013. Pursuant to that agreement, the Partnership consisted of: (1)
capital, and Witkoff was to contribute 15%. A then-partner at DLA Piper signed the
8
9
10
same address as DLA Piper in Chicago. According to its operating agreement, also
11
dated November 25, 2013, it has a single member: Symphony CP Investments LLC, i.e.,
12
13
420. LOW and Szen dealt with Witkoff in connection with the Park Lane
14
Partnership through and on behalf of Jynwel Capital, a Hong Kong based entity founded
15
16
17
Managing Director) sent an email addressed to the Jynwel Team. Included on that
18
email were LOW and Szen; other employees of Jynwel Capital and Witkoff; and lawyers
19
from DLA Piper and U.S.-based law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. The
20
email attached a Capital Call Notice from the Park Lane Partnership, calling for a capital
21
contribution of $214,776,720.27 for the closing of the Park Lane acquisition, of which
22
23
24
Land and Title Insurance Company, the escrow agent used in connection with the
25
26
422. Bank records obtained from Citibank show that on or about November 25,
27
2013, DLA Piper transferred $202,206,876.48 from a DLA Piper IOLA Account at
28
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 116 of 136 Page ID #:116
Title Insurance Company. These funds were sent from the same account into which
including electronic communications, reveal that the Partnership was structured to permit
the possibility that Mubadala Development Company PJSC (Mubadala) would join
Jynwel as an investor in the LOW Investment Entities after the initial capitalization of
Abu Dhabi. An organizational chart prepared by LOWs counsel after the initial
capitalization appears to indicate that Mubadala did subsequently acquire some indirect
10
interest in Symphony CP Investments LLC, and thus in the Park Lane Partnership,
11
through various holding companies. That same organizational chart also shows than an
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
425. The Investors total contribution to the Partnership to date has been
approximately $380 million.
19
426. As recently as February 2016, LOW paid a capital call on behalf of the
20
21
February 10, 2016, LOW transferred $3,206,162.03 from an account held in his name at
22
Amicorp Bank and Trust in Hong Kong to the M&T Bank account held by Symphony
23
CP Investments LLC, one of the LOW Investment Entities. On or about February 11,
24
25
26
427. LOW and the Investor failed to make the most recent capital call dated
27
May 5, 2016. On May 20, 2016, Witkoff notified the Investor that it was in default.
28
116
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 117 of 136 Page ID #:117
3.
428. On or about July 16, 2013, the Park Lane Partnership entered into a
2
3
Purchase and Sale Agreement with the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable
Trust and the Park Lane Hotel, Inc., for the purchase of 36 Central Park South, then
known as the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, for $660,000,000. The Park Lane Partnership
429. Real property transfer documents from the New York City Department of
Finance, Office of the City Register, indicate that, Symphony CP (Park Lane) Owner
10
LLC acquired 36 Central Park South on November 25, 2013, for $654,316,305. The
11
deed was recorded on December 5, 2013. The Park Lane Partnership secured a
12
mortgage on the property from Wells Fargo Bank for a maximum principle amount of
13
14
15
16
Park Lane Hotel, is wholly-owned, through multiple subsidiaries, by the Park Lane
17
Partnership.
18
4.
19
Low Acquired an Interest in the Park Lane Hotel for His Personal
Benefit Rather Than That of 1MDB
431. LOW, Szen, and Jynwel Capital did not invest in the Park Lane Partnership
20
21
for the benefit of 1MDB or ADMIC. Neither 1MDB nor ADMIC holds any interest in
22
the Park Lane Partnership, and there is no indication that any proceeds of the investment
23
in the Partnership have been returned to 1MDB or ADMIC. Rather, LOW and Szen
24
invested in the Partnership, through Jynwel, solely on behalf of themselves and their
25
family, and LOW falsely claimed to be investing personal family funds, not 1MDB
26
funds.
27
28
432. On October 16, 2013, a Principal at Witkoff who worked on the Partnership
deal sent an email to LOW and Szen stating in relevant part:
117
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 118 of 136 Page ID #:118
We are getting down to the end with the lender, they are asking for specifics
on where the money on your side of the deal is coming from given it is
LOW responded the same day: Low Family Capital built from our Grandparents, down
to the third generation now. In reply, the Witkoff Principal wrote: Ok, thanks Jho, just
didnt know if there were any other minority investors on your side, I will let the bank
know. LOW confirmed in response, in relevant part: Just all the family.
433. In an email dated October 17, 2013, the Witkoff Managing Director advised
10
individuals at Wells Fargo, where the Park Lane Partnership was at the time seeking a
11
mortgage, that Jynwel serves as the advisory team to the Investor (Jho and Szen Low).
12
Their capital derives from a family trust which Jho and Szen control.
13
14
demonstrate the purported nature and source of his wealth to other entities with which he
15
sought to do business, characterized Jynwels investment in the Park Lane Hotel as one
16
of its key investments. Another background document relied on by LOW to show the
17
origins of his wealth indicated that Jynwel provides services to the Low Family
18
Investment Trusts and does not manage third party funds. This same material claims
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
K.
435. LOW used funds traceable to the Tanore Phase in 2013 to acquire the VAN
26
GOGH ARTWORK, a 76 x 54 cm pen and ink drawing by Vincent Van Gogh entitled
27
28
118
Case 2:16-cv-05371 Document 1 Filed 07/20/16 Page 119 of 136 Page ID #:119
price of $5,485,000. After Tanore was unable to make payments for the artwork, TAN
informed Christies that LOW would be purchasing the artwork instead. Christies
437. LOW purchased the VAN GOGH ARTWORK using funds diverted from
the 2013 bond sale. As noted above in Paragraphs 404-405, on or about March 25, 2013,
a wire of $378,000,000 was sent from the Tanore Account to the Granton Account at
Falcon Bank in Singapore. On or about that same day, a wire of $378,000,000 was sent
10
from the Granton Account to the Dragon Market Account. As noted above in Paragraph
11
408 and Table 13, on November 5 and 6, 2013, two additional wires totaling
12
$140,500,000 were sent from the Granton Account to the Dragon Market Account. In
13
total $518,500,000 was transferred from the Granton Account to the Dragon Market
14
15
438. As noted above in Paragraph 406, between April 25, 2013 and November 8,
16
2013, four wires totaling $476,300,000 were sent from the Dragon Market Account to
17
the Dragon Dynasty Account. This included a wire in the amount of $9,800,000 on or
18
about September 10, 2013. Three days later, on or about September 13, 2013, a wire of
19
$9,300,000 was sent from the Dragon Dynasty Account to the ADKMIC BSI Account.
20
That same day, $9,300,000 was sent from the ADKMIC BSI Account to LOWs
21
22
439. As noted in Paragraph 408 above, LOW also received funds into his
23
personal account at BSI Bank in Singapore indirectly from the Dragon Dynasty Account
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via his fathers account. On or about November 12, 2013, $248,500,000 was wired from
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the Dragon Dynasty Account to the LHP Account, which, on the same day, transferred
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440. On or about December 20, 2013, a wire of $7,288,667 was sent from the
LOW BSI Account to Christies bank account at J.P. Morgan Chase in the United States.
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A second wire of $5,120,000 was sent on or about January 22, 2014, to the same
Christies account. The payment details for that wire read: NOTES: NOV 2013
(2ND PAYMENT USD3,533,333.33.) A third wire of $5,117,000 was sent from the
LOW BSI Account to Christies on or about February 5, 2014, with the payment details:
BASQUIAT.)18
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441. A Christies invoice for the VAN GOGH ARTWORK, marked PAID,
reflects that LOW paid $5,485,000 for the VAN GOGH ARTWORK.
442. On March 13, 2014, LOW sent an email to an employee at SNS Fine Art
11
(the SNS Employee), an art dealer, inquiring: Do you know of any banks, financiers
12
who take art as security for raise bank loans for investments/acquisitions of more
13
artwork? Later that same day, LOW explained further in another email to the SNS
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Employee which read in relevant part, Just looking to borrow based on asset value. . .
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Abt usd 330m, so looking for 50%. Only would like facility for 6 months to a year, so I
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free up cash . . . Can you let me know who can do it? And the top 2 or 3 that would be v
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aggressive.
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443. That same day, the SNS Employee responded to LOW, stating in relevant
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part, I think those sort of numbers would scare off Sothebys . . . and suggested that
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LOW consider other financial institutions. LOW responded in an email, Yes pls. Prefer
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the boutique banks that can move fast vs the large ones like JPM. In another email
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dated March 13, 2014, LOW explained to the SNS Employee what types of lenders he
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would be looking to utilize. Specifically, LOW requested that the SNS Employee look
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for Quick, fast and aggressive and ones you know v well. Out of Europe or usa or
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middle east not asia. Have abt usd350m and looking for line of 50% so I can buy more.
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from a creditor, LOW sent another email to the SNS Employee on March 14, 2014,
explaining that the lender can take all the art no problems. All in Geneva free port.
Speed is the most important and one with a fairly quick and relaxed kyc process.
Thanks!
445. In April 2014, LOW used several pieces of art, including the VAN GOGH
Financial), a Sothebys affiliate. The loan, with a principal amount of $107 million,
was obtained by Triple Eight Ltd., a Cayman Island entity wholly-owned by LOW.
10
LOW secured the loan by pledging to Sothebys, as collateral, all right and title to 17
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pieces of art, which the April 14, 2014 Loan Agreement estimated to be worth between
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$191.6 and $258.3 million. The list of art used as collateral to secure the loan included
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the VAN GOGH ARTWORK, as well as several works originally purchased by Tanore
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in May and June 2012 and gifted to LOW in October 2013, as described in Section
15
IV.E above.
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$105,188,721.95 to an account at Caledonia Bank Ltd. in the Cayman Islands held in the
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447. After disbursing the loan amount to LOW, Sothebys sold some of the
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paintings that LOW had pledged as collateral for the loan at LOWs direction. By May
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2016, Sothebys had recovered sufficient funds from the proceeds of the sale of certain
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pledged art, including the painting Dustheads discussed in Paragraph 268, to cover the
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outstanding balance of the loan. Upon repayment of the loan, Sothebys released its
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security interest in the artwork. As of June 7, 2016, Sothebys still had the VAN GOGH
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L.
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448. LOW used funds traceable to the Tanore Phase in 2013 to acquire the
SAINT GEORGES PAINTING, a 25 x 36 inch (65 x 92 cm) oil on canvas painting
entitled Saint-Georges Majeur. The painting was signed and dated Claude Monet
1908 in the lower left-hand corner of the painting.
449. LOW purchased the SAINT GEORGES PAINTING from SNS Fine Arts
(SNS), an art dealer, for a purchase price of $35,000,000 on December 18, 2013.
450. SNS issued LOW an invoice for the SAINT GEORGES PAINTING, stating
that LOW owed SNS an initial down payment of $5,000,000 on or before December 25,
2013. The remaining $30,000,000 was due on or before January 31, 2014.
451. On December 20, 2013, LOW sent an email to the SNS Employee asking,
Wld you be kind enough to send me an image of this artwork so I can show my family?
Thank you.
452. On December 22, 2013, the SNS Employee sent an email to LOW stating in
pertinent part, Dear Jho, Congratulations on acquiring Monets stunning Saint-Georges
Majeur . . . which, as you know, once belonged to the Art Institute of Chicago and is
also on the cover of Phillipe Piguets book, Monet et Venise.
453. LOW paid for the VAN GOGH ARTWORK using funds diverted from the
2013 bond sale. As noted in Paragraphs 404-405 above: (i) a wire in the amount of
$378,000,000 was sent from the Tanore Account to the Granton Account on March 25,
2013; and (ii) three wires totaling $518,500,000 were sent from the Granton Account to
the Dragon Market Account between March 25, 2013 and November 6, 2013.
454. As noted above in Paragraph 406, between April 25, 2013 and November 8,
2013, four wires totaling $476,300,000 were sent from the Dragon Market Account to
the Dragon Dynasty Account. This included a wire in the amount of $9,800,000 on or
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about September 10, 2013. Three days later, on or about September 13, 2013, a wire of
$9,300,000 was sent from the Dragon Dynasty Account to the ADKMIC BSI Account.
That same day, $9,300,000 was sent from the ADKMIC BSI Account to the LOW BSI
Account.
455. As noted in Paragraph 408 above, LOW also received funds into his
personal account at BSI Bank in Singapore indirectly from the Dragon Dynasty Account
via his fathers account. On or about November 12, 2013, $248,500,000 was wired from
the Dragon Dynasty Account to the LHP Account, which, on the same day, transferred
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456. On December 23, 2013, a $5,000,000 wire was sent from the LOW BSI
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Account to SNS Fine Arts account at J.P. Morgan Chase in connection with the
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457. On December 23, 2013, the SNS Employee sent an email to LOW
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confirming that SNS received the $5 million payment. The subject line of the email
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read, Re: Fw: Swift advice on USD 5 mio value 23.12.2013. The email stated in
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pertinent part, Dear Jho I just received notification that the $5M are pending in our
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account. Congratulations, its a marvelous painting. I would love to send you a copy of
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the Monet in Venice book, should I send it to the address of your invoice in HK?
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458. On February 5, 2014, a wire for $30,000,000 was sent from the LOW BSI
Account to SNS Fine Arts account at J.P. Morgan Chase.
459. On January 28, 2014, the SNS employee sent an email to LOW. The email
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read in relevant part, Dear Jho, . . . We are currently preparing the crate and shipment
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for Claude Monets stunning Venice view Saint-Georges Majeur. Could you kindly
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confirm the name, address and contact information of where you would like us to
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arrange to send it please. The following day, LOW responded to the SNS employee
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and informed him that he would like to have the painting placed in LOWs storage in
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460. The SAINT GEORGES PAINTING was one of the pieces of art that LOW
used as collateral to secure the loan from Sothebys Financial to Triple Eight in April
2014, as referenced in Paragraph 445. After the balance of that loan was paid through
the sale of other pledged artwork, as set forth in Paragraph 447, Sothebys released its
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M.
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461. LOW used funds traceable to the Tanore Phase in 2013 to acquire the
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avec Reflets de Hautes Herbes. The painting was stamped Claude Monet in the lower
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462. LOW purchased the NYMPHEAS PAINTING on June 23, 2014, from
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$378,000,000 was sent from the Tanore Account to the Granton Account on March 25,
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2013; and (ii) three wires totaling $518,500,000 were sent from the Granton Account to
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the Dragon Market Account between March 25, 2013 and November 6, 2013.
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464. As noted above in Paragraph 406, between April 25, 2013 and November 8,
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2013, four wires totaling $476,300,000 were sent from the Dragon Market Account to
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the Dragon Dynasty Account. This included a wire in the amount of $9,800,000 on or
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about September 10, 2013. Three days later, on or about September 13, 2013, a wire of
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$9,300,000 was sent from the Dragon Dynasty Account to the ADKMIC BSI Account.
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That same day, $9,300,000 was sent from the ADKMIC BSI Account to the LOW BSI
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Account.
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465. As noted in Paragraph 408 above, LOW also received funds into his
personal account at BSI Bank in Singapore indirectly from the Dragon Dynasty Account
via his fathers account. On or about November 12, 2013, $248,500,000 was wired from
the Dragon Dynasty Account to the LHP Account, which, on the same day, transferred
466. On July 31, 2014, a wire for 3,183,997 GBP (equivalent to approximately
$5.4 million) was sent from the LOW BSI Account to an account maintained by
467. On October 21, 2014, another wire for $65,000,000 was sent from the
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Dragon Market Account to the Dragon Dynasty Account. This wire was processed
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468. Two days later, on October 23, 2014, a wire for $65,000,000 was sent from
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the Dragon Dynasty Account to the LOW BSI Account. That same day, a wire for
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28,500,000 GBP (equivalent to approximately $45.7 million) was wired from the LOW
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PAINTING.
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469. On or about March 17, 2015, LOW, Triple Eight, and Sothebys Financial
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executed an amendment to the April 2014 loan agreement discussed in Paragraph 445
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(Loan Amendment). Among other things, the Loan Amendment extended the maturity
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date of the loan, released certain pledged artwork, and added additional artwork as
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collateral to secure the original loan. The NYMPHEAS PAINTING was among the
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works of art that LOW added as collateral in that Loan Amendment. Pursuant to the
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PAINTING to Sothebys. After the balance of the loan was paid through the sale of
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other pledged artwork, as set forth in Paragraph 447, Sothebys released its security
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On October 16, 2014, a wire for $72,510,000 was sent from an account in the
name of TKIL Capital Partners Ltd. at AmiCorp Bank in Barbados to the Dragon Market
Account.
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interest in the NYMPHEAS PAINTING. As of June 7, 2016, Sothebys still had the
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N.
470. Funds traceable to the proceeds of the 2012 bond sales, which were diverted
from 1MDB and/or IPIC, were used by QUBAISI to acquire a penthouse condominium
unit in the Walker Tower in New York, New York. The property was purchased by an
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entity called 212 West 18th Street LLC on January 21, 2014 for approximately
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$50,912,500. Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a U.S.-based law firm, represented 212 West
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2012, the Aabar-BVI Swiss Account received approximately $1.367 billion in funds
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traceable to the 2012 bond sales. And, as set forth in Section III.D above, between May
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and November 2012, Aabar-BVI, of which QUBAISI was a purported director, sent five
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472. As described in Paragraph 181 above, between on or about May 29, 2012,
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and November 30, 2012, four wires totaling $472,750,000 were sent from the Blackstone
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473. On or about February 20, 2013, $20,750,000 was wired from the Good Star
Account to the Vasco Account.
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474. On October 28, 2013, a wire of $15,000,000 was sent from the Vasco
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The payment details on the wire read: WALKER TOWER, PH1 CLIENT/MATTER
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475. On January 21, 2014, another wire of $36,596,281 was sent from the Vasco
Account to the same Citibank account maintained by Greenberg Traurig. The payment
LLC; the payment details also included the name of the attorney at Greenberg Traurig
476. On October 30, 2013, QUBAISI entered into a Purchase Agreement with
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SMJ 210 West 18 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the purchase of
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THE WALKER TOWER PENTHOUSE for the price of $50,000,000. The agreement is
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477. On January 21, 2014, QUBAISI assigned his interest in the Purchase
14
Agreement to 212 West 18th Street LLC f/k/a Al Qubaisi 212 West 18th Street LLC.
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QUBAISI signed on behalf of himself as the assignor, and also on behalf of Al Qubaisi
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212 West 18th Street LLC as the assignee. Neil Moffitt (Moffitt) signed as the
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478. The property was purchased by 212 West 18th Street LLC by deed dated
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January 21, 2014, for a purchase price of $50,912,500. Moffitt signed as the Manager of
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212 West 18th Street LLC. Moffitt manages or managed several properties on behalf
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of QUBAISI.
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479. On March 9, 2015, $158,664.71 was transferred from the Vasco Account to
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an account at J.P. Morgan Chase maintained by Moffitt. Payment details on the wire
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O.
ACCOUNT
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480. As described below, QUBAISI used funds from the Vasco Account, which
are traceable to the proceeds of the 2012 bond sales, to purchase THE LAUREL
BEVERLY HILLS MANSION in Beverly Hills, California. The property was
purchased for $31,000,000 on or about February 5, 2014, by Laurel Beverly Hills
Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The property is currently on the
market and is listed for $38,000,000.
481. On or about January 10, 2014, QUBAISI transferred $930,000 from an
account at Falcon Bank in Switzerland held in his name to an account at Chase
Manhattan Bank belonging to Escrow of the West. The Buyers Final Settlement
Statement for the property acquisition, dated February 5, 2014, characterizes this transfer
as a deposit for the purchase of the LAUREL BEVERLY HILLS MANSION from
Khadem Al-Qubaisi FBO Neil Moffitt.
482. On or about January 30, 2014, $31,050,387.75 was wired from the Vasco
Account to an account at City National Bank in New York held in the name Escrow of
the West. The wire notations indicate: 7 M. FOR EQUITY TO AL QUBAISI
WALKER TOWER TRUST AND 24 M. FOR LOAN CONTRIB. FROM AL QUBAISI
TO LAUREL BEVERLY HOLDING LLC.
483. Escrow of the West recorded a deposit of $31,050,387.75 for the purchase
of the LAUREL BEVERLY HILLS MANSION from Vasco Investments FBO Laurel
Beverly on the Buyers Final Settlement Statement for the property acquisition.
484. LAUREL BEVERLY HILLS MANSION was purchased by Laurel Beverly
Hills Holdings LLC by deed dated January 14, 2014, which was recorded in the land
records on February 5, 2014. The purchase price was $31,000,000. Neil Moffitt was an
authorized signor for Laurel Beverly Hills Holdings LLC.
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485. QUBAISI used funds traceable to the proceeds of the 2012 bond sales to
purchase HILLCREST PROPERTY 2 in Beverly Hills, California. The property was
purchased on or about March 24, 2014 by 1169 Hillcrest LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company, for $15,000,000.
486. On or about March 21, 2014, $14,749,071.51 was wired from the Vasco
Account to an account at First American Trust, F.F.B. in the United States, held in the
name of First American Title Company. The payment details on the wire contain the
address for HILLCREST PROPERTY 2.
487. First American Title Company is the title company used in connection with
the acquisition of HILLCREST PROPERTY 2. First American Title Company recorded
the receipt of a deposit in the amount of $14,749,071.51 from Vasco Investments on
March 21, 2014 for the purchase of HILLCREST PROPERTY 2.
488. Land records maintained by the LA Recorders Office show that a Nevada
limited liability company called 1169 Hillcrest LLC purchased the property by deed
dated March 20, 2014, which was recorded in the land records on March 24, 2014.
489. According to the final closing statement for the transaction, dated March 24,
2014, 1169 Hillcrest LLC acquired the property for the purchase price of $15,000,000.
This included a deposit of $14,749,071.51 from First American Title Company.
490. The Operating Agreement for 1169 Hillcrest LLC, dated March 20, 2014,
lists Neil Moffitt as the manager and sole member of the entity.
491. On or about January 8, 2016, a wire of $490,522.79 was sent from the
Vasco Account to an account at J.P. Morgan Chase in the United States held in the name
of 1169 Hillcrest LLC. The wire details read: OUTSTANDING INVOICES FOR
WALKER TOWER (USD 26.194,81) AND BEVERLY LAUREL (USD 463.327,98)
PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER.
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Q.
SWISS ACCOUNT
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492. Funds traceable to proceeds of the 2012 bond sales were used by AZIZ to
purchase the QENTAS TOWNHOUSE, Belgravia, London, United Kingdom together
with a leasehold for PARKING SPACE 2. The property was purchased by Qentas
Holdings Limited on or about July 12, 2012, for 23,250,000. In accounting records for
AZIZ, the amount he paid for the QENTAS TOWNHOUSE is recorded as equivalent to
$41,799,886.
493. As noted in Paragraphs 203 and 206 above, on or about June 18, 2012,
Aabar-BVI transferred $133,000,000 in funds traceable to the proceeds of the 2012
Project Magnolia bond sale to AZIZs Red Granite Capital Account at BSI Bank in
Singapore. On or about June 20, 2012approximately two days laterAZIZ
transferred $58,500,000 from his Red Granite Capital Account to the Shearman IOLA
Account at Citibank.
494. One day later, on June 21, 2012, the Shearman IOLA Account wired
$43,000,000 from the same Shearman IOLA Account funds held on behalf of AZIZ to
an account maintained by Shearman & Sterlings London office.
495. A purchase agreement for the QENTAS TOWNHOUSE was signed on July
2, 2012. An entity called Lygon Place (London) Limited, is listed as the seller; Qentas
Holdings Limited (Quentas), a British Virgin Islands entity, is listed as the purchaser;
and Shearman & Sterlings London office is listed as the purchasers counsel. The
purchase price was 23,250,000.
496. Qentas acquired the QENTAS TOWNHOUSE from Lygon Place
(London) Limited by deed dated July 27, 2012, for 23,250,000. AZIZ signed the deed
on behalf of Qentas, and the Red Granite Business Manager signed as a witness.
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497. Qentas also acquired leasehold rights to PARKING SPACE 2 as part of the
transaction. Closing documents indicate that a lease agreement was originally entered on
August 9, 2010 between O & H Properties Developments Limited and Lygon Place
(London) Limited, the entity that sold the property to Qentas. The lease agreement
granted Lygon Place (London) Limited a 999 year lease, beginning on January 1,
2009, to Parking Space 2 for rent of a peppercorn per annum. Lygon Place (London)
Limited conveyed this leasehold interest to Qentas by the same deed that transferred
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498. AZIZ claimed beneficial ownership of Qentas in his 2012 tax return. That
tax return lists a Los Angeles address for Qentas.
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under Malaysian law, as enumerated by the Penal Code of Malaysia, including but not
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trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or agent), 166 (Public servant
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disobeying a direction of the law, with intent to cause injury to any person (including a
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company)), 415 (cheating), 418 (cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may be
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thereby caused to a person whose interest the offender is bound to protect), and 420
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(cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property); and the Malaysian Anti-
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Corruption Act 2009, including sections 16, 17, and 23. Copies of these laws are set
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forth in Attachment A.
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500. Bank fraud is a criminal offense under Malaysian law, as enumerated by the
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Penal Code of Malaysia, including but not limited to section 415 (cheating), 418
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(cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may be thereby caused to a person whose
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interest the offender is bound to protect), and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing
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delivery of property).
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under U.A.E. law, as enumerated in Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 on Issuance of the
Penal Code, including but not limited to Articles 224, 225, 227, 228, 229, and 399.
Copies of these laws, translated into English, are set forth in Attachment A.
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502. Paragraphs 1 through 501 above are incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein.
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503. The Defendant Asset is property that constitutes, and is derived from,
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proceeds traceable to one or more violations of: (i) a foreign offense involving the
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misappropriation of public funds by or for the benefit of a public official (18 U.S.C.
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1956(c)(7)(B)(iii)); (iii) wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343); and/or (iv) international
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and receipt of stolen money (18 U.S.C. 2315), each of which is a specified unlawful
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504. The Defendant Asset is therefore subject to forfeiture to the United States
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(C).
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505. Paragraphs 1 through 501 above are incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein.
506. The Defendant Asset was involved in, and is traceable to property involved
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property of a value greater than $10,000 that was derived from specified unlawful
activities, that is: (i) a foreign offense involving the misappropriation of public funds by
or for the benefit of a public official (18 U.S.C. 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv)); (ii) fraud by or
against a foreign bank (18 U.S.C. 1956(c)(7)(B)(iii)); (iii) wire fraud (18 U.S.C.
obtained property (18 U.S.C. 2314), and receipt of stolen money (18 U.S.C. 2315).
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508. Paragraphs 1 through 501 above are incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein.
509. The Defendant Asset was involved in, and is traceable to property involved
in, one or more transactions, or attempted transactions in violation of section 18 U.S.C.
1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and a conspiracy to commit such offenses in violation of section 18
U.S.C. 1956(h). Specifically, the Defendant Asset was involved in and is traceable to
property involved in one or more financial transactions, attempted transactions, and a
conspiracy to conduct or attempt to conduct such transactions involving the proceeds of
specified unlawful activity, that is: (i) a foreign offense involving the misappropriation
of public funds by or for the benefit of a public official (18 U.S.C. 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv));
(ii) fraud by or against a foreign bank (18 U.S.C. 1956(c)(7)(B)(iii)); (iii) wire fraud
(18 U.S.C. 1343); and/or (iv) international transportation or receipt of stolen or
fraudulently obtained property (18 U.S.C. 2314), and receipt of stolen money (18
U.S.C. 2315), and were designed in whole or in part to conceal or disguise the nature,
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the location, the source, the ownership or the control of the proceeds of the specified
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511. Paragraphs 1 through 501 above are incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein.
512. The Defendant Asset was involved in, and is traceable to property involved
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U.S.C. 1956(h). Specifically, the Defendant Asset was involved in and are traceable to
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funds that were and were attempted to be, transported, transmitted, or transferred, and a
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through a place outside the United States, with the knowledge that the funds involved in
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unlawful activity and knowledge that such transportation, transmission, or transfer was
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designed in whole or in part to conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source,
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the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of specified unlawful activities, that is: (i) a
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foreign offense involving the misappropriation of public funds by or for the benefit of a
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public official (18 U.S.C. 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv)); (ii) fraud by or against a foreign bank (18
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U.S.C. 1956(c)(7)(B)(iii)); (iii) wire fraud (18 U.S.C. 1343); and/or (iv) international
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(a)
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(b)
due notice be given to all interested parties to appear and show cause why
this Court decree forfeiture of the Defendant Asset to the United States of
for such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper,
Respectfully submitted,
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M. KENDALL DAY
Chief, AFMLS
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EILEEN M. DECKER
United States Attorney
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