Envoy: Jho Low talks a lot, come to Malaysia or US to face charges

Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir said today that fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho can prove his innocence by either coming to Malaysia or going to the United States to stand trial.

According to the US ambassador to Malaysia, Low, who has been charged in both countries in relation to the 1MDB scandal, "likes to talk a lot".

"He should return home to face charges, or he can come to the US to prove his innocence," Lakhdir told selected media in an interview in Penang.

Low was charged in absentia both here and in the US with receiving over US$1 billion (RM4.2 billion) from 1MDB in 2009 and 2011.

Through his spokespersons, he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and claims that he would not be tried fairly in Malaysia.

Lakhdir, who was attending a July 4 Independence Day gala dinner organised by American multinationals in Penang, said that US authorities are working closely with Malaysia to track Low's whereabouts.

She said there is close cooperation between the law enforcement agencies in both countries, particularly between the Attorney-General's Chambers and the US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"But they will not share with us or with me exactly what their interaction is directly in the case," she said.

"This is still a law enforcement matter, and they hold matters such as that quite carefully in confidence."

Lakhdir (photo) pointed out that the mutual legal agreement between both countries to return misappropriated assets is currently being enforced.

She noted that since 2017, there have already been efforts to seize assets which the US believes were purchased through funds misappropriated from 1MDB.

"We have seized those assets, and when litigation completes, the value of those assets would be returned to Malaysia. 

"We have already done so with the Finance Ministry," she said, adding that the 1MDB case is "global and complex."

Lakhdir also made reference to the four phases of misappropriation of 1MDB money outlined in the DOJ's filings – the Good Star, Aabar-BVI, Tanore and options buyback phases.

"From the DOJ perspective, these phases were before we started entering into the case. 

"We did so when there was a US nexus, meaning that US financial institutions were used for the movement of these funds for the purchase of assets."

On the difficulties faced by authorities in tracking Low down, Lakhdir noted that the US has had similar experiences before.

"We had cases involving individuals which takes a long time for the person to be found and extradited." - Mkini