Former PetroSaudi employee arrested in Thailand for blackmailing company

PETALING JAYA: The Thai police have arrested a former employee of PetroSaudi International Ltd for allegedly blackmailing the company over its dealings to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
PetroSaudi International Ltd, in a press statement, confirmed that Xavier Justo was arrested at his home in Thailand by the Crime Suppression Division of the Royal Thai Police yesterday (June22) and charged with attempted blackmail and extortion against the Saudi-based oil and gas company.
It added that numerous computers, hard drives and other evidence were seized according to a court ordered search warrant and the investigation is on-going.
A spokesperson for PetroSaudi said the company welcomed the arrest and is fully co-operating with the authorities in Thailand.
"We are relieved that Justo will now face justice through the courts.
"We have been the victims of a regrettable crime that has unfortunately been politicised in Malaysia," the spokesperson said.
"We are happy to finally set the record straight and we apologise to the Malaysian people for the harm that one of our unscrupulous ex-employees has caused to them," the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, PetroSaudi said it is considering taking further legal action in other jurisdictions against Justo.
In March, whistleblower website Sarawak Report had alleged that Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho had used PetroSaudi as a front to siphon off USD 700 million.
The report claimed that Low, had engineered the joint-venture between 1MDB and PetroSaudi in 2009, that ended six months later.
The deal had resulted in 1MDB repaying the money to PetroSaudi, and the funds ultimately went to a company controlled by Low, called Good Star Limited.
Both PetroSaudi and 1MDB had denied allegations of wrongdoing, stressing that the joint venture was a 'win-win' agreement – resulting in a profit of USD 488 million.