KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will seek mutual legal assistance (MLA) from Germany to obtain more information on the four high-end, special edition Bugatti Veyron supercars seized in Munich as part of an investigation into items purchased with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has applied to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to help reach out to German authorities.
MACC’s Anti-Money Laundering Division director, Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin, told Scoop that the MLA application is a vital tool for Malaysia to get further information and documents related to the probe in Germany.
“MACC has also submitted an application to the authorities in Germany seeking information on the 1MDB bonds that were used to purchase those four supercars.”
So far, MACC has yet to obtain information on the owners and location of the four Bugattis.
“We have yet to send our team to Germany, as we first need to assess the current situation as well as obtain the latest information on the case.”
Media have reported that one of the four vehicles could be owned by 1MDB mastermind and current fugitive, Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low.
MACC’s German counterpart is also assisting Malaysia in gathering evidence on the four Bugatti Veyrons seized from a Munich warehouse.
The seizure of the four cars, which were priced at around US$3 million (RM14.3 million) each at the time of sale, was reported by German publication, Bild, which also quoted sources saying they were linked to the 1MDB scandal.
Subsequently, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that the four Bugatti Veyrons were among 50 luxury vehicles the agency had been investigating since 2020 for links to 1MDB funds.
MACC had submitted an application for MLA to Switzerland in November 2020 to obtain information regarding the frozen assets linked to 1MDB. – May 9, 2024