Tong finally pays Justo RM8 million for the stolen data on 1MDB
Justo was arrested in June 2015 on blackmail charges and then incarcerated in a Thai prison for 18 months
(The Edge) – The Edge Media Group chairman Tong Kooi Ong has paid off Xavier Andre Justo RM8 million for the stolen data on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Tong passed a cheque for RM8 million ringgit to Justo on Thursday, January 31 when he visited The Edge office in Petaling Jaya, Selangor with his wife Laura and four-year old son Zander.
“The gift to Justo is in appreciation of his contribution to Malaysia in helping to expose the kleptocracy of the past government,” said Tong. “Without him, the wrongdoings involving 1MDB, as exposed by The Edge, would not have come to light.”
The exposes that started in March, 2015 led to a global investigation in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore that revealed that as much as US$6.5 billion of money that belonged to 1MDB was stolen. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) described it as the largest case of kleptocracy it has ever uncovered.
Justo tried to sell back the stolen data to PetroSaudi and when that failed he offered it to The Edge
Justo paid a heavy price for providing information to The Edge as well as The Sarawak Report, which showed billions were stolen from 1MDB under the guise of a joint-venture with Petro Saudi International between 2009-2011.
He was arrested in June 2015 on blackmail charges, paraded in front of selected media in Bangkok as though he was a hardcore criminal, and then incarcerated in a Thai prison for 18 months.
“His family was harassed and intimidated while he was languishing in jail. No one should have to go through what he had to endure for helping to reveal the truth,” said Tong. “On behalf of all Malaysians I would like to say thank you to him and his family.”
Tong had initially denied they owed Justo RM8 million so Justo sent them a lawyer’s letter
Tong added: “I would also like to add that Justo has confirmed to me that the accusation that he stole the data is untrue. My lawyers had tried to reach Petro Saudi on their past claims and they had chosen repeatedly not to respond.”
Justo expressed his appreciation for the gesture by Tong.
“I would like to say thank you to Tong. The gift from him will go a long way in helping me and my family rebuild our lives,” he said. “I take comfort that I have not suffered in vain. Malaysians got to learn the truth (about 1MDB) and I eventually got my freedom back.
