Justice prevails in Petrosaudi duo conviction, says 1MDB whistleblower

After a decade of relentless struggle, a 1MDB whistleblower who endured jail time can finally breathe a sigh of relief after a Swiss Court convicted and jailed two Petrosaudi International Limited executives.

In his LinkedIn posting late last night, Xavier Andre Justo lauded the criminal court ruling against his former colleagues Tarek Obaid and Patrick Mahony, saying that justice has prevailed.

"After a decade of relentless struggle, justice has finally prevailed. For 10 long years, we fought tirelessly to bring these criminals to account. The path was arduous, filled with countless obstacles, sleepless nights, and moments of doubt that tested our resolve.

"Yet we never wavered in our belief that truth and justice would triumph, no matter the power of the opposition. As the verdict was read, the weight of those years seemed to lift, if only momentarily.

"It was a poignant reminder that when you stand your ground and know in your heart that you are righteous, nothing can truly impede your progress. We fought this battle not just for ourselves, but for all those who have been wronged and for those who believed in the power of justice.

"This victory stands as a beacon of hope, a testament that even in the face of immense adversity, justice can and will prevail," Justo (above) contemplated.

Having endured a year in Thai jail for alleged blackmail and extortion of his former employer before being released in 2016, the former Petrosaudi executive said the Swiss Court ruling is proof that whistleblowing is not a one-time event but the start of a long and hard-fought battle.

He ruminated that even the smallest can triumph over the mightiest.

"To everyone who stood by us, believed in us, and never lost faith, we thank you. This victory is for all of us. Justice has been served," Justo said.

Convicted duo

Two days ago, Reuters reported the Swiss Federal Criminal Court convicted Obaid and Mahony for their roles in embezzling Malaysia’s state investment fund 1MDB.

They were accused of creating the false impression that the Saudi government backed their company, in their bid to convince 1MDB’s board to set up a joint venture with their company in 2009.

They were alleged to have then proceeded to defraud 1MDB of US$1.8 billion (RM8 billion).

It was reported their indictment stated that Obaid got at least US$805 million, while Mahony got at least US$37 million.

The report said Obaid was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Mahony was sentenced to six years.

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