Nothing to link Jho Low with 1MDB, says IGP

Ongoing police investigations into 1MDB do not link Penang-born businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) to it, said top cop Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

In a statement today, the inspector-general of police said the seizure of the Equanimity superyacht said to belong to Low, was therefore only a matter related to the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) civil suits against Low and had nothing to do with 1MDB.

"Based on our investigation, Low Taek Jho had never worked with 1MDB and all the company's decisions and business were made by its board of directors and management.

"The police probe on 1MDB is still ongoing but based on statements and our probe so far, there is nothing concrete to link Low Taek Jho with 1MDB's business decisions.

"However, if the police gain any new evidence against Low, action according to the law will be taken against him," Fuzi said.

The IGP added that police investigations into 1MDB were carried out following findings by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which were presented to Parliament on April 7, 2016.

Fuzi also reiterated that the Malaysian police did not receive any form of notification from the Indonesian police or the US' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the seizureof the US$250 million (RM1 billion) Equanimity in Bali on Feb 28.

According to DOJ filings, the vessel was bought with funds allegedly syphoned from 1MDB.

"Neither have we been contacted by any party to help out in the investigation against the said yacht," he added.

Low himself had through a spokesperson condemned the yacht seizure as "global overreach" by the DOJ.

The DOJ, meanwhile, has claimed that Low is a key player in the 1MDB scandal having used hundreds of millions of funds allegedly misappropriated from the state fund to purchase the yacht, luxury real estate and jewellery among other items. -Mkini