Former PetroSaudi IT exec arrested on Samui

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok:- The Crime Suppression Division has arrested a former IT executive of the PetroSaudi International for having allegedly blackmailed and exposed secret information of his former company.

The arrest of Xavier Andre Justo was announced at the Royal Thai Police headquarters by Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Somyos Pumpanmuang at 1:30 pm Tuesday.

Somyos said Justo, a Swiss citizen, was charged with blackmailing the PetroSaudi International, for Bt90 million.

"Numerous computers, hard drives and other evidence were seized pursuant to a court ordered search warrant and the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile PetroSaudi International is considering further legal action in other jurisdictions," PetroSaudi said in a statement shortly after the arrest was announced.

Somyos said Justo had earlier been paid Bt140 million to leave the company after he violated certain rules of the company.

Justo later allegedly blackmailed the company, demanding Bt90 million more of compensation or else he would expose the company's secret to its rivals, Somyos alleged.

The police chief said Justo later arranged a meeting with the company's representative at a hotel in Bangkok but the company refused to give him the demanded sum.

The former IT executive later allegedly exposed the information linked to Malaysia's troubled 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Somyos said the PetroSaudi International filed a complaint with the CSD that conducted an investigation and sought an arrest warrant against Justo.

The CSD learned that he was staying with a friend on Koh Samui so police made the arrest.

Justo denied the blackmailing charge.

Somyos said the man would be prosecuted in Thailand before he would face extradition.

A spokesperson for PetroSaudi said "we are relieved that Mr Justo will now face justice through the courts. We have been the victims of a regrettable crime that has unfortunately been politicised in Malaysia. We are happy that the Courts will now address this matter, and we apologise to the Malaysian people for the harm caused to them."

[ratcatcher]

Ah, the peace and tranquility of a tropical island.

Let's hope Justo will be served.

[dddave]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..."Which hand do you open your computer with??"

[Roota]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..

Since PetroSaudi is an Anglo-Swiss company there isn't much chance of that.

It remains to be seen if this fellow is a whistleblower, an extortionist, or (most likely) a bit of both. But it's good to see a little media attention focusing on Mr. Jho Low and his highly dubious Good Star Ltd.

[ratcatcher]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..

Since PetroSaudi is an Anglo-Swiss company there isn't much chance of that.

It remains to be seen if this fellow is a whistleblower, an extortionist, or (most likely) a bit of both. But it's good to see a little media attention focusing on Mr. Jho Low and his highly dubious Good Star Ltd.

Since PetroSaudi is a Saudi Arabia company,it is up to the Thai authorities to deal with Justo.

"PetroSaudi has offices in London, UK, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Geneva, Switzerland."

http://oilworldcompanies.com/petrosaudi/

http://news.petrosaudi.com/petrosaudi-international-statement-ex-managers-blackmail-arrest/

[dabhand]

The connection to the Malaysian company, 1MDB, is rather interesting.

When I was in KL last month for a few days the press were going overboard into an alleged RM42b (Bt420b) black-hole in 1MDB. What made it unusual was that it was a company that had connections right up to the Malaysian PM and was seemingly being used as an open chequebook as it was fully 'owned by the Finance Ministry (the PM is also the Finance Minister, very convenient!!).

Normally such stories are kept well away from the public eye, or, at least, only a watered down version comes into view. But, in this case, Mahathir Mohamad was stoking the fires by posing many awkward questions, via the media, about the government's involvement in the shenanigans connected with 1MDB. To the extent that the PM was openly complaining about MM's lack of support, despite the support given to him during his time in power!!

Of course, the unspoken reason for the attacks of MM is that he is attempting to clear the way for one of his sons (currently Chief Minister of Kedah) to become the next PM. Dynastic rule at it's best (just like the current Malaysian PM)!

Interesting background to 1MDB in Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1Malaysia_Development_Berhad

With the link to PetroSaudi being noted as:

It was reported by news portal Sarawak Report and British newspaper The Sunday Times using leaked email correspondences that Penang-based financier Jho Low, who has ties with Najib's stepson was able to siphon US$700 million from a joint venture deal between 1MDB and the leading oil exploration and production company PetroSaudi. An email revealed that Jho Low had the loan approval from Prime Minister Najib for US$1 billion without getting any approval from Bank Negara.

This story has a way to go yet

[Andrew65]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..."Which hand do you open your computer with??"

If this story is correct, and he wasn't happy with a US$4 million payoff, I don't have much sympathy!

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..."Which hand do you open your computer with??"

If this story is correct, and he wasn't happy with a US$4 million:wai: payoff, I don't have much sympathy!

If it is correct...

More here..

Edited June 24, 2015 by Jiu-Jitsu

[Chicog]

I think I'd almost prefer to do my time in Bang Kwang!

[Roota]

Since PetroSaudi is a Saudi Arabia company,it is up to the Thai authorities to deal with Justo.

Legally domiciled in Geneva (see for example http://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/u/petrosaudi_international_sa_CH-660.2.339.007-3.htm), so that's most likely where he'd be extradited. In any case the one place he would definitely not want to go now is Malaysia and afaik at this point they have no legal claim to him.

There's a bombshell of a book waiting to be done about the Najib government and the oil industry but it would take a brave man to write and publish it.

[MobileContent]

The connection to the Malaysian company, 1MDB, is rather interesting.

When I was in KL last month for a few days the press were going overboard into an alleged RM42b (Bt420b) black-hole in 1MDB. What made it unusual was that it was a company that had connections right up to the Malaysian PM and was seemingly being used as an open chequebook as it was fully 'owned by the Finance Ministry (the PM is also the Finance Minister, very convenient!!).

Normally such stories are kept well away from the public eye, or, at least, only a watered down version comes into view. But, in this case, Mahathir Mohamad was stoking the fires by posing many awkward questions, via the media, about the government's involvement in the shenanigans connected with 1MDB. To the extent that the PM was openly complaining about MM's lack of support, despite the support given to him during his time in power!!

Of course, the unspoken reason for the attacks of MM is that he is attempting to clear the way for one of his sons (currently Chief Minister of Kedah) to become the next PM. Dynastic rule at it's best (just like the current Malaysian PM)!

Interesting background to 1MDB in Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1Malaysia_Development_Berhad

With the link to PetroSaudi being noted as:

It was reported by news portal Sarawak Report and British newspaper The Sunday Times using leaked email correspondences that Penang-based financier Jho Low, who has ties with Najib's stepson was able to siphon US$700 million from a joint venture deal between 1MDB and the leading oil exploration and production company PetroSaudi. An email revealed that Jho Low had the loan approval from Prime Minister Najib for US$1 billion without getting any approval from Bank Negara.

This story has a way to go yet

+1 You are spot on. When I was an IT Manager for a listed company in Asia we had a lot of filters in that would screen certain emails that should not have send from a corporate account. This PetroSaudi IT guy knows to much and must have been in charge of getting emails through the whole corporate email system. He did got 130 million Baht but he might got greedy. Thailand owes Saudi Arabia a lot for the past. Would he has been based in Malaysia the story would have been different but the Thai's need to look good. My guess he will be jailed within the next 1 months for a couple of years and will be deported back to Switzerland but not to Saudi Arabia.

[jackanapes]

a blackmailer in any shape or form should be very severely dealt with the company had already given him 140 million baht and he had the cheek to ask for more naughty .

[gandalf12]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..."Which hand do you open your computer with??"

Would not apply in this case. Probably a very, very long time behind bars.

[bijankoch]

Saudi Arabia is a brutal dictatorship. No one should have any sympathy with the officials there. Thailand should dismiss their request to hand over this poor guy.

[dddave]

Not sure it would apply here but isn't Thailand doing everything possible to curry Saudi Arabia's favor, still trying to smooth over the still very open wounds from the jewel heist more than a decade ago in which several Saudi's, including a diplomat were assassinated.

It has been long suspected that very high ranking Thai cops were deeply involved. There was supposed to be a resolution last year with several top cops summoned to court...then, once again, it all went quickly away.

[Bakseeda]

Not going to be very nice for him back in Saudi..."Which hand do you open your computer with??"

He will NOT be going to Saudi, .... Read the article, He is from Switzerland so will be deported to his home country when he finishes his jail time...... He did not commit a crime in Saudi..

Edited June 25, 2015 by Bakseeda

[phoenixdoglover]

Everyone interested in this case should read up on the back story. It is quite likely this guy is simply being pursued by his former employer as a way to shut him up. There is a major scandal brewing in Malaysia; basically siphoning of US$700 million from the Malaysian development bank through PetroSaudi, and onward to a bunch of heavily connected crooks.