Several ministers continue to raise the narrative that leaked information belonging to PetroSaudi International (PSI) was tampered with in an apparent bid to absolve 1MDB of alleged wrongdoings.

This is despite Thai police saying the arrest of former PSI staff Xavier Andre Justo revolved around the Swiss citizen's alleged attempt to blackmail his former employer using the leaked information.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last night even claimed that during interrogation, Justo implicated several Malaysians who allegedly asked him to manipulate the leaked information which was passed to whistleblower site Sarawak Report.

He added that Putrajaya was prepared to extradite these individuals if there is a request from Bangkok.

However, a police source from Thailand's crime suppression division, which arrested Justo, told Malaysiakini that Interpol and Malaysian authorities were not involved in the investigation.

The source, which requested anonymity, added that Thai police is pursuing the angle of blackmail as it was this aspect that happened in Thai jurisdiction.

According to the source, Justo had sent an email to PSI in October last year to request a meeting and an executive subsequently met Justo at a hotel in Bangrak in downtown Bangkok.

Justo allegedly demanded 2.5 million Swiss Francs in return for not revealing confidential business information to third parties, prompting PSI to lodge a police report in Bangkok about two months ago.

Justo was arrested at around 3pm on June 22 at his luxury house in Koh Samui, a popular tourist destination in the southern Thai province of Surat Thani.

Following the arrest, several ministers including Zahid were eager to create the impression that among Justo's crimes was the tampering of information.

Zahid even threatened to act against local media that used the leaked information which had put 1MDB in a spot.

PSI's leaked information included communications with 1MDB that had embroiled the latter in controversy as it highlighted questionable transfer of funds to a company controlled by Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, who is close to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's family.

PSI and 1MDB have yet to deny the allegations but insisted that it is based on "tampered" evidence.

Blaming Justo for 1MDB's woes

Yesterday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek who weighed into the matter also made no mention of the blackmail and instead pledged to act against those who circulated the "tampered" information.

"We will not only work together with the police and the Thai authorities but against those who spread false information," he reportedly said.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also echoed this, calling the allegations levelled against 1MDB as being based on "distorted facts".

"Justo used distorted facts on 1MDB to blackmail it, probably for his own financial gain. News reports revealed that he lived a luxurious lifestyle," said the Umno Youth chief.

The report referred to by Khairy was by a newspaper linked to his own party, the New Straits Times (NST), which quoted cyber intelligence agency Protection Group International (PGI) claiming the information leaked to Sarawak Report was tampered with.

Ministers have been more than willing to peddle PGI's findings, which was hired by interested party PSI.

Yesterday, NST topped its reports on Justo's arrest by front-paging a half-naked photograph (photo) of the Swiss national covered in tattoos and blamed him for 1MDB's woes.

"The desire to fund his lavish existence apparently drove him to allegedly extort and blackmail his former employer, PetroSaudi, which in turn ignited a major political firestorm," it said.

However, Sarawak Report today responded by insisting that regardless of the circumstances of how the leaked information was obtained, its content was not compromised and remained unchanged.

The whistleblower portal also produced the document which PGI claimed to have been tampered with, pointing out that no changes had been made.

Najib's administration came under siege as 1MDB struggles to repay its RM41.8 billion debt amid claims by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad that some of the loans had been misused.