ELUSIVE businessman Low Taek Jho will be arrested for his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“We are trying to arrest Jho Low, but he is not in the country, and we don’t have extradition rights where he is staying,” said the prime minister today, confirming that a warrant has been issued against the billionaire financier by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“They have investigated his involvement in 1MDB, and on those grounds he will be arrested,” he told a press conference after chairing the Cabinet Committee Meeting on the Integrity of Government Management at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
Asked if the government knew of Low’s whereabouts, Dr Mahathir said he is in “many countries”.
Yesterday, MACC issued a notice that it is seeking Low and former SRC International managing director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil to help in its probe into the former 1MDB subsidiary.
In response to the public announcement, Low instructed his lawyers to get in touch with the authorities.
In 2015, when MACC announced that it was seeking his cooperation, Low had instructed his lawyers to communicate with the authorities in a similar manner, promising his fullest cooperation.
However, he failed to turn up for questioning.
Low is known to be former prime minister Najib Razak’s confidant and business adviser.
Najib is currently under investigation over allegations that SRC International was used to siphon funds from 1MDB into his bank accounts.
The US Department of Justice has accused him of masterminding the 1MDB scandal.
Although he never held an official position in 1MDB, Low is said to be among the beneficiaries of the funds used to purchase luxury properties and assets, including a super yacht, paintings and jewellery. – https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/
Singapore says Interpol had red notice out on Jho Low in 2016, Malaysia was aware
PETALING JAYA: Singapore had requested Interpol’s help to locate businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, in an investigation linked to scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) back in 2016.
A joint statement by Singapore’s Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said that at Singapore’s request, Interpol published red notices in October 2016 for Low and his close business associate Tan Kim Loong following investigations on 1MDB fund flows, in March 2015.
“All members of Interpol, including Malaysia, would have been aware of the red notices when they were published,” read the statement, issued on Friday.
According to Interpol, a red notice is a request to locate and arrest an individual pending extradition. It is issued if there is a valid national arrest warrant.
The Singapore statement also said that former Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who is now part of the 1MDB taskforce, has headed over to Singapore to meet officers from the AGC, CAD and MAS.
This was after Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers met with their Singaporean counterparts at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on May 31.
“It was a productive meeting with a fruitful exchange of information,” the statement read, adding that the meeting was held at the invitation of Singaporean authorities.
Singapore said it does not tolerate the use of its financial system as a refuge or conduit for illicit funds.
Hence, it has taken strong action against financial institutions and individuals who have broken laws within its jurisdiction in connection with 1MDB fund flows, including criminal charges and convictions, as well as large financial penalties. – ANN
-THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / ANN
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.