The International Police Organisation (Interpol) has declined to comment on whether it has been engaged by Malaysia to help locate 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho, more commonly known as Jho Low.
“If or when police in any of Interpol’s 192 member countries share information with the general secretariat in Lyon (France) in relation to investigations and fugitives, this information remains under the ownership of that member country.
“Interpol does not, therefore, comment on specific cases or individuals, except in special circumstances and with the approval of the member country concerned.
“With regard to your request in relation to this individual (Low), we would advise you to contact the authorities in the countries where you believe there may be an investigation ongoing,” Interpol said in an email to Malaysiakini when asked to respond to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement in Parliament yesterday.
Zahid (photo) said the government had sought Interpol's help in locating Low but that police had not received any detailed information regarding this.
He added that he believed international investigations into the matter were already finalised.
Zahid later claimed that his statement had been "manipulated", clarifying that the request for Interpol's help was no longer active.
Checks by Malaysiakini showed that Low is not on the Interpol’s “Wanted List”. Neither is there a “Red Notice” issued on him.
However, Interpol explained that member states have the option of not publicly revealing their request for a Red Notice.
“If no Red Notice is published, this is either because one has not been requested or issued for that person, or the requesting country has asked that it not be publicised,” it said.
Low first burst into the spotlight after the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds came to light in 2015.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed that he was one of the major players in the scandal.
Among others, Low is said to have used monies allegedly siphoned from 1MDB to purchase a superyacht, dubbed the Equanimity.
His current location is unknown, although his yacht was spotted in Aceh, Indonesia, yesterday.
-Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.