THE Royal Malaysian Police has closed its investigation on businessman Low Taek Jho, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
As such, the question of seeking Interpol’s assistance in searching for Low, otherwise known as Jho Low, does not arise, he said in a statement.
“My answer to Gombak MP Azmin Ali in the Dewan Rakyat this morning clearly says that there are no more cases (against Jho Low),” Zahid said.
“The Deputy Prime Minister’s office denies strongly reports that have manipulated answers attributed to Zahid that the police has requested Interpol’s assistance in tracking Jho Low,” the statement read.
Earlier today, it was reported that Malaysia had enlisted Interpol’s help to track down Jho Low, who has been identified as the central figure in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
Reports said that Zahid was responding to a question from Azmin in the Dewan Rakyat this morning.
Azmin had asked Zahid, who is also the home minister, if Interpol was helping Malaysia locate Jho Low.
Jho Low is a Malaysian businessman and the beneficiary of numerous discretionary trust assets that the US Department of Justice allege were obtained from 1MDB funds.
RELATED STORY: ZAHID FIRES A QUIET BUT DEADLY BLOW AT NAJIB: POLICE HAVE ASKED INTERPOL TO LOCATE JHO LOW – HOME MINISTER
The question of Low’s whereabouts was raised in in 2015.
The Home Ministry had said then in a written reply that it had been unsuccessful in locating those wanted for questioning to facilitate investigations into 1MDB, including business tycoon Jho Low.
The ministry said Interpol had been unable to determine the whereabouts of Low and others linked to the 1MDB scandal.
Jho Low’s superyacht docks in Aceh
MEANWHILE, according to Malaysiakini:
As Putrajaya ropes in the International Police Organisation (Interpol) for help in locating the elusive Jho Low, the businessman’s superyacht has made port very close to home.
According to maritime database website MarineTraffic, the Equanimity docked at Sabang, a town in Pulau Weh, northern Aceh, at about 9am Malaysian time.
Pulau Weh is a well-known dive destination, but it is not known for the luxury that is often associated with all things Low.
MarineTraffic later indicated that the yacht departed Sabang at about 4pm local time.
While it is unknown where the Equanimity last made port, Malaysiakini reported in June that the ship’s position was recorded off the coast of Koh Rong, a Cambodian resort island.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has sought the Equanimity, believing that it is part of 1MDB-related assets which involves laundered money.
The DOJ’s court filings had claimed that the yacht was built and maintained using over US$250 million (RM1.06 billion) in funds originating from 1MDB.
In all, the DOJ has attempted to seize slightly over US$1 billion in assets. However, the asset seizure process has been suspended to make way for criminal investigations.
The Equanimity has been described by yacht fans as a one-of-kind custom-made vessel with its own sauna, massage rooms, and plunge pool, as well as large living areas.
There have been news reports claiming that the yacht was the venue for a number of parties with Hollywood A-listers, such as Leonardo DiCaprio.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / MKINI
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