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Malaysia’s 1MBD Gets Go-Ahead to Pursue Abu Dhabi in U.K. Court

Malaysia’s 1MBD Gets Go-Ahead to Pursue Abu Dhabi in U.K. Court

Malaysia was given the go-ahead by a London judge to continue its pursuit against Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund for its role in the multi billion-dollar 1MDB scandal.

Malaysia’s government challenged a 2017 arbitration settlement between the two sides in the U.K., arguing that Abu Dhabi state-owned International Petroleum Investment Co. and Aabar Investments were aware of fraud allegations against former Prime Minister Najib Razak at the time the deal was struck.

Judge Andrew Baker on Thursday granted an extension of time for the claim to be properly served to bring this “unusual” case to a full trial. 

“That is no doubt an exceptional length of extension to grant, but this is an exceptional case,” he said.

1Malaysia Development Berhad was an investment fund originally intended to develop the southeast Asian nation’s economy. Instead, much of the money was allegedly embezzled by people connected to Najib and diverted for bribes.

The London case is one of a series of legal and regulatory probes around the world, including the U.S. and Malaysia, surrounding 1MDB.

Both sides are embroiled in the London legal fight in London’s courts with claims that IPIC and Aabar were complicit in the 1MBD fraud, according to court filings. If Malaysia is successful at trial, it will be able to pursue these claims further in court. 

“This result will finally allow the commercial court to fully scrutinize important aspects of the 1MDB fraud as part of an open and transparent process,” Richard Little, a lawyer at Eversheds Sutherland who represents 1MBD and Malaysia’s finance minister, said.

Lawyers for IPIC and Aabar Investments at Clifford Chance declined to comment. 

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.