Lawyer Files Defamation Complaint On Goldman Sachs Settlement Kickback Claim

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Lawyer Rosli Dahlan has lodged a police report against Kuang assemblyperson Sallehuddin Amiruddin and former Umno supreme council member Lokman Adam over allegations they recently made about him.
Among other things, he refuted their accusation that he personally benefited from 1MDB's RM16.63 billion out-of-court settlement with US investment bank Goldman Sachs.
The report, sighted by Malaysiakini, was lodged yesterday (March 23) in Selangor.
“I say there is a sinister conspiracy between Lokman, Sallehudin and (Sallehuddin’s aide) Mohd Hanizam Yunus in their actions to make a video, press statement and a police report that was publicised to sully the good name of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Bersatu party, the prime minister (Muhyiddin Yassin), to destroy my dignity as a Muslim and my reputation as a professional,” read Rosli’s report.
The lawyer opined that their actions constituted offences under Section 500 of the Penal Code (criminal defamation), Section 120(B) of the Penal Code (criminal conspiracy), Section 182 of the Penal Code (false information with the intent to cause a public servant to use their lawful power to the injury of another person), Section 124(I) of the Penal Code (dissemination of false reports), Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities or network service) and Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948.
“I ask that the police investigate this matter and charge those who are involved in these wrongdoings,” he said.
Rosli reportedly told The Edge that he is considering suing them and demanding an apology from them.
In July last year, Putrajaya announced that it had reached a settlement with Goldman Sachs over the bank’s involvement in the 1MDB global financial scandal.
The RM16.63 billion (US$3.9 billion) settlement involved a RM10.66 billion (US$2.5 billion) cash payment while the remaining RM5.97 billion (US$1.4 billion) would be paid once stolen assets were returned to the government.
Little details have been disclosed due to a confidentiality clause.
Goldman Sachs offered to settle the matter after Malaysia filed 17 criminal charges against it in August 2018.
Rosli has represented 1MDB, Bersatu and Muhyiddin in several cases.




Former Umno supreme council member Lokman Adam
Lokman was ejected from Umno last year after he accused party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of cajoling leaders to work with Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He is widely regarded as a close ally of Pekan MP Najib Abdul Razak.
Sallehuddin, meanwhile, defected from Bersatu to Mahathir's Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.
Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan previously refuted Sallehudin’s claims that Rosli had paid the party RM500 million in commission for the 1MDB-Goldman Sachs settlement.
Wan Saiful called the accusation an attempt at “defamation” and “character assassination”. - Mkini

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