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PABLO Picasso's painting is among four luxurious paintings by world-renowned artists linked to the embezzlement of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds, which are currently being brought back to Malaysia.
The four paintings, worth millions of ringgit, owned by 1MDB's lead lawyer, Jasmine Loo, are expected to arrive on April 6.
MACC Special Operations Division senior director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin said that all the paintings were brought back following official discussions with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) in Washington DC in December last year.
"I understand that these four paintings are currently in the process of being shipped to Putrajaya (MACC Headquarters).
"The four paintings are L'Ecuyère et les clowns (Pablo Picasso, 1961) with an estimated value of US$26,250; Montmartre (Maurice Utrillo, 1934) (US$50,000); Étude pour femme couchée (Balthus, 1948) (US$28,125) and Composition (Juan Miró, 1953) (US$93,750).
"Seven other paintings linked to 1MDB are still under the custody of the famous auction house, Christie's, while another has been sold," he said.
Mohamad Zamri said his party would also use Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) to bring back four more paintings that are at Christie's.
Last December, it was reported that 12 high-quality and expensive paintings by world-renowned artists linked to the embezzlement of 1MDB funds worth around US$30 million (approximately RM140 million) will be displayed at the National Art Gallery for public viewing upon arrival in the country.
MACC, in a statement, said that the USDOJ will return 12 high-value paintings to Malaysia through MACC as part of the asset recovery efforts related to the 1MDB scandal.
The agreement was reached as a result of two series of bilateral discussions between MACC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and USDOJ, which took place in Washington DC and New York on 9 and 11 December. – March 31, 2026
