A SINGAPORE court found a former private banker guilty yesterday of trying to obstruct investigations linked to the corruption-tarred Malaysian development bank 1MDB.

The State Court convicted Yeo Jiawei, a former “wealth planner” at Swiss private bank BSI, on four charges related to obstructing, preventing or perverting the course of justice. Mr Yeo faces up to three and a half years in prison.

He was alleged to have asked three key witnesses to lie to the authorities, get rid of a laptop and avoid travelling to Singapore.

Prosecutors say he pocketed £15 million for his efforts to cover up the scandal.

Investigators in Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong and the US have been probing allegations that people close to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak stole over £800m from 1MDB.

In February, Singapore authorities said they had seized a large number of bank accounts in connection to the probe.

Singapore told BSI to stop operating in the city in May for breaking anti-money laundering laws, among other problems.