PETALING JAYA: A British citizen once hired by former prime minister Najib Razak for public relations work is hiding in Israel as he evades attempts by British police to extradite him to Malaysia to face money laundering charges, The Edge reports today citing sources.
The financial daily said Paul Stadlen, who has been charged in absentia with money laundering involving RM14.3 million, had gone to Israel in the middle of the year.
“Following an extradition request made by Malaysia, the Westminister Magistrates’ Court in London issued a warrant of arrest for Stadlen on Oct 10, but attempts by the police to get him failed.
“It was then discovered that he had fled to Israel,” the daily reported.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) previously said that Stadlen, who headed international public relations firm Apco Worldwide’s Malaysian operations, had left the country before the May 9 polls last year.
Stadlen reportedly was offered a six-month stint worth US$420,000 to advise the Najib administration.