Thailand releases Swiss man linked to 1MDB scandal

By Arun Saronchai

BANGKOK (AA) - Xavier Justo, a Swiss National jailed for attempted blackmail in connection with a scandal surrounding Malaysia's debt ridden state investment vehicle 1MBD, was released from a Thai prison on Tuesday.

Justo was one of 30,000 prisoners set free in an act of clemency by Thailand's newly crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Thai authorities jailed Justo, previously an executive at Saudi oil company PetroSaudi International, for three years in August 2015 for allegedly attempting to blackmail his former employer.

According to police, Justo confessed to having stolen confidential digital data from the former joint venture partner of 1MDB and sold it to media, after having tried to blackmail his former bosses.

“We found that the suspect’s network included press and a former key politician from this country,” Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri was reported as saying in July 2015.

1MDB, a brainchild of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, is the subject of a global money-laundering probe.

After being released Tuesday, Justo told reporters "I hope to be home by tonight."

As his visa has lapsed, Justo will be held in a Bangkok immigration detention center until the Swiss Embassy can secure a new document and flight back to Switzerland.

An immigration official told Anadolu Agency by phone Tuesday that it was now up to the Swiss authorities how quickly Justo is repatriated.