By Mark Hosenball and A. Ananthalakshmi
WASHINGTON/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Switzerland's chief prosecutor said on Friday a criminal investigation into state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) had revealed that about $4 billion appeared to have been misappropriated from Malaysian state companies.
The office of Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber said it had formally asked Malaysia to help with its probes into possible violations of Swiss laws related to bribery of foreign officials, misconduct in public office, money laundering and criminal mismanagement at the fund.
It said it had identified four cases of alleged criminal conduct.
1MDB, whose advisory board is chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been probed by Malaysian authorities following accusations of financial mismanagement and graft.
Earlier this week, Malaysia's attorney general cleared Najib himself of any criminal offences or corruption, declaring that $681 million deposited into his personal bank account was a gift from Saudi Arabia's royal family.
The Malaysian attorney general's office said in a statement on Saturday that it would take all possible steps to follow up and collaborate with its Swiss counterpart, but noted that the investigations into donations made to Najib were entirely separate from those into 1MDB.
Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying the funds were a political donation and he did not take any money for personal gain.
In its statement seeking Malaysia's assistance, the Swiss attorney general's office said: "The monies believed to have been misappropriated would have been earmarked for investment in economic and social development projects in Malaysia."
It added that each case involved "a systematic course of action carried out by means of complex financial structures."
1MDB said it has not been contacted by foreign legal authorities on any matters relating to the company.
The Swiss authorities began investigations last August into 1MDB for suspected corruption of public foreign officials, dishonest management of public interests and money laundering.
Lauber's office said a small portion of the apparently misappropriated money had been transferred to accounts held in Switzerland by former Malaysian public officials and current and former public officials from the United Arab Emirates.
The four cases of suspected criminal conduct related to former 1MDB subsidiary SRC international, Petrosaudi, Genting/Tanjong, and ADMIC between 2009 and 2014, it said.
When presenting his findings last week, Malaysia's top lawyer had asked the country's anti-graft agency to close all probes into SRC and the money deposited in Najib's account.
Officials from Malaysia's anti-graft agency were not immediately available for comment on the statement by the Swiss authorities.
In a statement, Petrosaudi denied any wrongdoing in connection with its joint venture with 1MDB, which was wound up in 2012. Petrosaudi said that in the event that its assistance "is requested, it will cooperate fully with the authorities."
Petrosaudi said further it has not been accused of any criminal conduct and denied being the subject of any investigation.
The Jan. 29 press release from the Swiss authorities said four cases involving criminal misconduct "have come to light" relating to Petrosaudi, SRC, Genting/Tanjong and ADMIC. But the release did not specify how the firms were involved. Reuters was unable to determine their involvement.
Genting and Tanjong did not answer calls seeking comment. ADMIC could not immediately be reached.
In its statement, the Swiss prosecutor's office said Lauber had discussed the 1MDB case with his Malaysian counterpart at a meeting in Zurich in September.
Sources familiar with the September discussion between the two law enforcement officials said the Malaysian official strongly urged Lauber to abandon his 1MDB-related investigation.
1MDB is also under investigation by law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong and the United States, media and other sources have said.
Tony Pua, a member of the Malaysian parliament with the opposition Democratic Action Party, called on the Malaysian attorney general to cooperate fully with foreign investigating agencies.
"Such cooperation will not only go a long way towards identifying the culprits ... but also removing the perception that the Malaysian AG was biased in favor of the Prime Minister," Pua said.
Malaysia's anti-corruption commission has said it will seek a review of a decision by the attorney-general to clear Najib.
The Swiss statement said the request for mutual assistance is to advise the companies involved and the Malaysian government of the results of the Swiss criminal proceedings, "with the aim of finding out whether losses on this scale have been sustained."