Unconfirmed reports have surfaced claiming that fugitive Malaysian businessman Jho Low has been arrested in China.
However, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was unaware of the arrest while inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Haron said Bukit Aman was in the process of verifying the information.
“I don't know. Thank you for giving me the information. I hope he has been arrested,” Mahathir told reporters in Parliament this morning when quizzed on the arrest.
Asked if Malaysia and China had an extradition treaty, Mahathir replied: “No, but they can always give him back to us.”
News of the arrest comes amid Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) chairperson Daim Zainuddin's official visit to China, where he met Chinese premier Li KeQiang.
Whereas, Fuzi said Bukit Aman has not received any information regarding the arrest.
“I don't have the information. I will check,” he said.
In February, former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia had an extradition treaty with China when commenting on the latter's request to Putrajaya to extradite 11 ethnic Uighur Muslims who were reported to have been arrested in Malaysia.
Yesterday, Sarawak Report quoted an unnamed Hong Kong radio station as claiming that Chinese authorities have detained the Penang-born businessman.
On July 11, South China Morning Post said Low had fled to mainland China from Macau either by car or pivate jet.
Prior to that, the 37-year-businessman had run to Macau after Malaysian police were closing in on him in Hong Kong.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) had claimed in its civil forfeiture suits that the businessperson was involved in multiple instances where 1MDB funds were allegedly misappropriated.
He is accused of having used 1MDB funds to purchase a superyacht - the Equanimity; jewellery for model Miranda Kerr; and also a US$27.3 million pink diamond necklace for the wife of Malaysian Official 1 (MO1).
The DOJ claimed the pink diamond was purchased using US$620 million that MO1 claimed to have returned to a royal Arab donor, but was instead channelled to accounts allegedly controlled by Low.
MO1 has been identified as former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has denied abusing public funds for personal gain.
-Mkini
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