SINGAPORE - A new charge of forgery has been lobbed against an ex-private banker of BSI Singapore caught up in a probe linked to embattled state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), bringing the total number of charges against him to seven to date.

Yeo Jiawei, 33, whom prosecutors say played a "central role" in the movement of large sums and concealing transactions, was charged with facilitating a transfer of US$11.95 million (S$16.3 million) from SRC International (Malaysia), a former unit of 1MDB, to Affinity Equity International Partners, a company owned by Tan Kim Loong, a business associate of Penang-born tycoon Jho Low.

Yeo was accused of using Pacific Harbor Global Growth Fund AA4 as an intermediary to pass the funds.

He was also accused of fraudulently signing a reference letter to the EMEA head of anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance of Citigroup to dupe them into thinking the letter was signed by the authority of BSI Bank.

On April 16, he was accused of trying to obstruct justice, cheating his former employer and money laundering. Last week, Yeo was again charged with cheating the bank by dishonest concealment, transferring funds that represented his benefits from criminal conduct and obstructing justice.