MACC freezes Rohana's assets and bank account

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has issued an order to freeze the assets and bank accounts of former Astro chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Rohana Rozhan.

This follows the investigations by the anti-graft agency on the revelation made by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner who claimed that he had bought a US$10 million house in London, using money from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), after being blackmailed by Rohana.

A source from MACC said the freeze order was made in accordance with section 44 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

“The order was made to prevent Rohana from making any transactions in relation to the house and through her bank account in the UK,” the source said.

The source added that the action was taken after the commission began its investigations over the allegation made by Leissner.

On Friday, it was reported that the MACC has recorded Rohana’s statement to assist in the investigation under Section 4(1) of the Act.

This was confirmed through a brief statement issued by her lawyers at Messrs Valen, Oh & Partners.

“I refer to allegations in the media about me. I’ve attended the offices at the MACC and given them my full cooperation in their investigations,” Rohana said in the statement.

Leissner made the revelation in the US court on Tuesday during the bribery trial of his former colleague Roger Ng.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Leissner had testified that he bought the house for Rohana in 2013 after she had threatened to expose his involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

Their relationship lasted from 2003 to 2013.