Disgraced former Goldman Sachs partner Tim Leissner — who pleaded guilty in the 1MDB bribery scandal — is reportedly being sought for extradition by Malaysia.
The southeast Asian country submitted an official request to the Justice Department last August asking for Leissner’s extradition, according to a document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
An Interpol red notice was also issued in November, which effectively places Leissner at risk of arrest anywhere internationally.
Leissner, a former Goldman Sachs partner, was married to fashion entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons, the former model known for launching the Baby Phat clothing line and for her previous marriage to music mogul Russell Simmons.
Leissner and Kimora Lee Simmons wed in 2014 and have a son together.
During a 2022 trial in the US, Leissner admitted under oath to forging divorce documents from his previous wife, Judy Chan, in order to marry Simmons — while still legally married to Chan.
Leissner also testified in court that one of the paramours with whom he was having an extramarital affair had blackmailed him into buying her a $10 million home.
Leissner remains married to Simmons, but the two are reportedly no longer living together.
In 2018, Leissner confessed to receiving between $50 million and $60 million in illicit payments as part of the 1MDB scheme. More than $4.5 billion was found to be misappropriated from the state-controlled economic development company, according to US prosecutors
US prosecutors allege that he helped facilitate massive bribes to officials in Malaysia and the Middle East while serving as Goldman’s point person on the fund’s controversial bond deals.
He used some of the misappropriated funds to support a lavish lifestyle that included luxury real estate, expensive gifts, and international travel.
Prosecutors say part of that money was funneled into accounts controlled by Simmons, who later accused Leissner of transferring millions into an investment account without her consent.
The former banker’s sentencing has been delayed more than 10 times since his 2018 guilty plea, and he remains in the US cooperating with investigators.
The Malaysian authorities remain intent on achieving justice regarding the billions allegedly siphoned from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The scandal not only toppled Malaysia’s then-prime minister but also prompted a worldwide search for fugitive financier Jho Low, who is accused of orchestrating the elaborate theft.
Goldman Sachs had facilitated three bond offerings totaling $6.5 billion for 1MDB between 2012 and 2013 — funds originally intended to bolster Malaysia’s economy.
Instead, much of the money was diverted into the hands of Low and others — with the alleged assistance of Goldman bankers Leissner and Roger Ng.
Investigators claim over $1.6 billion in bribes were disbursed to officials in Malaysia and the Middle East, with nearly $700 million traced to the personal account of Malaysia’s prime minister at the time, who was subsequently convicted of corruption.
Low, the central figure in the scandal, became infamous for lavishly spending the misappropriated funds on luxury properties, artworks and even financing the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Low continues to evade capture. He previously maintained his innocence.
Malaysia aims to extradite Leissner from the US before any potential relocation to Germany, his home country, where extradition would become significantly more challenging.
Malaysian authorities claim Leissner violated local capital market laws, potentially carrying a maximum sentence of ten years, according to the Interpol notice.
Goldman Sachs suspended Leissner in 2016, and he subsequently resigned.
The bank stated it provided relevant information about Leissner’s activities to authorities.
In 2020, Goldman reached a settlement with Malaysia, agreeing to a $2.5 billion cash payment and assurances to recover an additional $1.4 billion in allegedly stolen assets.
However, Leissner and Ng were excluded from that agreement.
Malaysia’s current prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has called for a review of the settlement, insisting on additional compensation from Goldman Sachs.
“Both parties reached a conclusive, binding and final settlement nearly five years ago,” a Goldman spokesperson told The Post.
Meanwhile, Malaysian investigators continue to interview Ng, Leissner’s former deputy, who was convicted in the US and sentenced to ten years in prison for his involvement.
Ng is cooperating with authorities in Malaysia and has provided new insights into Leissner’s actions and Goldman’s role in the scandal.
The Justice Department anticipates that Malaysia will eventually return Ng to serve his sentence in the US following the conclusion of domestic legal proceedings.
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