The article said Gary Barnett of Extell development, sought the help of Aabar Investments and another Abu Dhabi investor, Tasameem Real Estate Co, to bail him out when he ran short of funding when erecting the building during the 2010 recession.

The skyscraper is also known as the billionaires’ building and accommodates a hotel, as well as condominium units.

In September 2010, a company associated with Aabar gave Extell a USD140.675 million mortgage for the project.

Aabar is a subsidiary of International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC), one of the biggest backers of scandal-ridden 1MDB.

“1MDB is under investigation around the globe after more than USD1 billion from its coffers allegedly wound up in personal bank accounts belonging to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Najib denies any improprieties.

“A US Department of Justice probe into 1MDB is looking at assets owned by Najib and his family, including luxury real estate in New York and Los Angeles,” said the report.

Khadem-Al Qubaisi (another name featured in the 1MDB scandal) was chief executive of IPIC and chairman of Aabar, when the ONE57 deal was sealed. His associate Mohamed Badawy al-Husseiny was Aabar’s chief executive.

Both men have however had their positions at both entities stripped, in the wake of the 1MDB probe.

In 2010, two American businessmen also took Aabar and Tasameem to court, after alleging the companies had failed to pay them for a deal to find real estate.

An Extell spokesperson did not return calls to the daily for comments.