Embezzled 1MDB Money May Not be Returned to Malaysia as Trump Disbands US Department of Justice Unit

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly shut down its elite anti-corruption unit, Kleptocracy Initiative, which was responsible for investigating and prosecuting the USD4.5 billion fraud involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

This is according to investigative journalist Bradley Hope, who famously co-authored the book detailing the 1MDB scandal, Billion Dollar Whale.

The United States Department of Justice unit that prosecuted 1MDB fraud has reportedly been disbanded

Pam Bondi

Taking to his official X account, Hope, quoting his sources, revealed that the DOJ unit was disbanded by recently appointed United States Attorney-General Pam Bondi.

He added that an email was sent by Bondi at 7.30pm local time on 5 February 2025 announcing the immediate closure of both Kleptocracy Initiative and Task Force KelptoCapture.

The two units had previously recovered billions in stolen assets, including those embezzled through 1MDB, since 2010.

Source: FMT

Embezzled 1MDB money may not be returned to Malaysia and will allegedly be used to fund detention facilities in the United States

Hope further revealed that the key objective of shutting down the unit is to gain control of a multibillion-dollar forfeiture fund comprising money seized from corrupt officials that was meant to be returned to victim countries.

For illustration purposes

His sources elaborated that Bondi’s memo cryptically mentioned “other law enforcement purposes”, possibly alluding to the funds that may be used to develop detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay and Texas, part of Trump’s controversial anti-illegal immigration initiative.

Should this prove to be true, it would mean that Malaysia may no longer recover the assets and money related to 1MDB seized by the United States Government.

🚨 BREAKING: Trump’s DOJ just killed its elite anti-corruption unit, our sources say. The Kleptocracy Initiative – famous for seizing Russian oligarchs’ yachts and prosecuting the $4.5B 1MDB fraud – was quietly disbanded last night.

— Bradley Hope (@bradleyhope) February 6, 2025

So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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