BMF: Swiss probing UBS-Sabah CM link

An international investigation into money-laundering involving Swiss bank UBS and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman is currently underway, said the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) today.

"The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has confirmed on Friday that Switzerland has given legal assistance to Hong Kong in a money-laundering case against Musa Aman (right)...," said the Swiss-based NGO in a statement.

BMF said according to a statement Swiss authorities reported in Zurich-based weekly Sonntagszeitung, files on the case were transmitted to Hong Kong authorities on March 31.

It said Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was investigating Musa for allegedly having laundered over US$90 million (RM276 million) in timber corruption money through UBS bank accounts in Hong Kong and Switzerland.

According to a report by whistleblower website Sarawak Report, Malaysian authorities have refused to cooperate with Hong Kong on the case, and the website has put the blame on Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, who is said to be related to Musa.

BMF alleges that the funds are kickbacks that Musa has received for granting logging concessions in Sabah.

Sarawak Report earlier detailed how huge areas of pristine forest have been cleared due to questionable concessions allegedly handed to Aman's close kin, one of whom is Foreign Minister
Anifah Aman.

The London-based website cited leaked documents from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as their source of information.

UBS has so far remained silent on the allegations, as has the MACC and the AG.

Aman however denied Sarawak Report’s claims, calling them recycled allegations.