Thailand to keep Xavier Justo in jail, says report

Swiss newspaper says Thailand has rejected a Swiss request that Justo be transferred to his home country to finish his jail term, and also refused to deliver him to Malaysia.

(FMT) – Thailand is reported to have refused to release Xavier Justo, the man who leaked emails and documents about 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MBD) transactions, into custody in Malaysia or Switzerland.

He is expected to remain in Thailand to serve the remaining jail term of less than a year for attempted extortion of his former employer, PetroSaudi International. He was jailed for three years last year.

According to a Swiss newspaper, Thailand rejected a Swiss request that he be transferred to his home country to finish his jail term, and also refused to deliver him to Malaysia.

The Swiss newspaper Le Temps, quoting sources, claimed that the decision was made after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak made a request not to allow Justo to be sent to Switzerland.

It also claimed that the decision had affected diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Thailand.

Last year Justo was reported to have attempted to sell the emails and documents to the publishers of The Edge for RM2 million in a deal which had implicated Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.

The Edge and Sarawak Report had carried extensive reports about 1MDB transactions, alleging fraud and embezzlement of billions of ringgit from 1MDB-related investments and loans.