Xavier Justo is a name that might ring familiar to anyone who’s been following the 1MDB scandal closely. The former Swiss banker who worked for PetroSaudi obtained and leaked crucial documents to journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, which then unravelled a web of high-level corruption and kleptocracy involving high-ranking officials, including of course, disgraced former Prime Minister, Najib Razak. 

Xavier was arrested in Thailand and even spent more than 2 years in what he describes as a hellish time in Thai prison. 

Some argue that Xavier shouldn’t be hailed as a hero or a whistleblower because he didn’t obtain nor leak the PetroSaudi files for noble reasons nor for the pursuit of justice, but for personal reasons, at least initially. 

But whether he should be hailed as a hero or not, one thing is for sure – his efforts and bravery were integral to getting to the bottom of the 1MDB scandal, which has since changed the course of Malaysian history forever. 

Xavier and his wife, Laura Justo, recently wrote a book titled Rendezvous with Injustice, detailing the struggles he and his family had to go through because he leaked crucial documents pertaining to the scandal.

We speak to Xavier Justo. 

Rendezvous with Injustice is available at Gerakbudaya and all major bookstores.