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Quizzed by Parliament, Australian bank denies 1MDB link
Published:  Oct 5, 2016 11:31 AM
Updated: 4:09 AM

Australian bank ANZ has no links to the 1MDB scandal, its chief executive Shayne Elliott told the economics committee of the Australian House of Representatives.

Elliott appeared before the MPs to answer questions on the bank's conduct.

Quizzed by Green's Melbourne MP Adam Bandt, Elliot said he is satisfied that no ANZ employee erred or is being investigated by the US Department of Justice, The Australian reported.

"He says the bank has no relationship with 1MDB, or link to what is alleged to have happened," the daily reported.

Last April, ANZ deputy chief executive Grahan Hodges defended ANZ's role on Ambank's board, when quizzed by the Australian Senate.

ANZ holds 25 percent of Ambank, the Malaysian bank US investigators said was used to channel part of the funds allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.

The US Department of Justice's court filings also showed how US$681 million allegedly flowed from 1MDB to the Ambank accounts held by "Malaysian Official 1".

Cabinet minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan said "Malaysian Official 1" is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, but stressed that the fact that Najib was not named shows that the US action is not against the PM.

The court filing was to seize property worth more than US$1 billion in the US, believed to have been procured using funds siphoned from 1MDB.

Those named in the lawsuit include Najib's stepson Riza Aziz and their family friend, businessman Jho Low.

Najib has consistently denied abusing public funds, and said those named in the civil forfeiture suit must clear their names.

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