Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had rejected an offer by fugitive businessperson Jho Low for the latter to be granted Malaysian immunity over the 1MDB scandal in return for him dropping his claim to more than a billion US dollars in assets.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the offer was communicated to Mahathir via an intermediary. The report, however, did not state when it was allegedly made.
It is unclear if this deal was made at the same time Low reportedly reached out to meet with Mahathir when the latter was newly sworn in as prime minister last month.
Low, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, is believed to be a key figure in the multi-billion dollar global 1MDB scandal and has been closely linked to ousted premier Najib Abdul Razak who founded the beleaguered fund.
Both Low and Najib are among those subject to investigations into the fund and several of its subsidiaries by Malaysian, Singaporean, Swiss and American authorities.
Low is wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for questioning, while an arrest warrant has also been issued for him by Singapore as far back as 2016.
Even so, efforts to bring him back to the country have so far proven futile, with Mahathir stating that the new government could not extradite Low back as Malaysia did not have existing treaty with the country he was in. The premier did not name the country.
The Wall Street Journal quoted people with knowledge on Low whereabouts as stating he has been hiding in mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong.
Low's lawyers had did not respond to the Wall Street Journal's requests for comments.
Low has reportedly made several other attempts to contact Malaysian authorities to assist with the probe. In one instance, he instructed his lawyers to contact the MACC.
In another, his lawyers were purported to have initiated discussion with authorities to meet the businessperson in Dubai, but 1MDB investigation committee chief Abu Talib Othman has stated he was not aware of any such plan. -Mkini
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