A hotel company linked to Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud has donated a costly oil painting by famous Australian artist John Olsen to the Art Gallery of South Australia, Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) claims.

The painting, 'Meandering Murray and wattles' was donated in 2013 by Sitehost Pty Ltd (Sitehost) through an Australian government cultural gifts programme, BMF says in an exclusive report.

The painting is estimated to be worth tens of thousands in Australian dollars (A$). Olsen’s most expensive paintings have sold for more than A$300,000 (RM932,000) at major auctions.

Sitehost, which owns the Adelaide Hilton Hotel, is controlled by Taib’s children and a Taib family offshore trust in the British Virgin Islands.

A report by the BMF in September disclosed that unexplained funds had flowed to Sitehost.

It was reported that Australian corporate regulator, ASIC, subsequently commissioned a specialist team to investigate Sitehost for failure to file financial statements.

Matter referred to Australian police

The Australian Foreign Ministry and the South Australian government have referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police, BMF said in its report.

Last month, Adelaide University disclosed that it received A$400,000 (RM1.4 million) in donations from Taib during his 33-year tenure as chief minister of Sarawak, BMF noted.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has, on several occasions, confirmed that Taib was under probe a couple of years ago, but has refused to reveal the outcome.

It appears that a South Australian lawyer played a key role in Taib’s Australia relations, BMF said.

He also assisted Adelaide University in a major fundraising drive with the Sarawak chief minister, said BMF.

BMF has called on the Art Gallery of South Australia to disclose the value and full background of the Taib donation to its collection and for the restitution of the gift to the people of Sarawak.

Malaysiakini has previously contacted the Office of the Governor of Sarawak on BMF's allegation by e-mail but received no reply.

In September, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted one of Sitehost’s directors, Gary Patrick Doherty as denying any involvement in money laundering, although he admitted to being aware of the allegations.

However, the article notes that the BMF report is not accusing Doherty of money laundering.

The SMH article also reports that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is mum on whether it would take action against Sitehost.

“We can't comment on the specifics of your query and any allegations about money laundering should be directed to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre as it is Australia's anti-money laundering regulator."