A criminal complaint brought against a US-based lobbyist Nickie Lum Davis has revealed fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho's alleged links to a high-ranking Chinese official.
The criminal action against Davis is for his role in acting as a foreign agent for Low, also known as Jho Low (above), without disclosing it to the US government.
The US' Foreign Agents Registration Act requires any person acting in the US as an agent for a foreign principal, particularly in matters of lobbying, politics and public relations, to register with the attorney-general to prevent the covert influence of foreign principals.
The criminal complaint filed with the US District Court of Hawaii said Davis acted as a foreign agent with Low together with "Person A" and "Person B".
Low, who was referred to in the complaint as "Foreign National A", had largely relied on Person A to liaise with Davis and Person B. The role of Person A and Person B had previously been reported in the media.
Person A is ex-rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel (below) who in 2019 was charged together with Low for conspiring to steer illegal foreign campaign funds in the 2012 US presidential election.
However, Prakazrel's influence on the US government appeared to extend beyond the Obama administration as he continued to help pull strings on behalf of Low well into 2017 when Donald Trump became president.
Person B is Republican donor Elliot Broidy, who was previously reported to have negotiated for a US$75 million payment to lobby the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop its civil forfeiture action against 1MDB.
The criminal complaint in the District Court of Hawaii, filed on Aug 17, confirms what was previously reported but interestingly, revealed that Low's lobbying efforts went beyond 1MDB and extended into China.
Meeting with Low, Chinese minister
Michel, Broidy and Davis met with Low in Bangkok on May 2, 2017. Days later, Michel was paid US$8.5 million, Broidy was paid US$6 million and Davis was paid US$1.7 million.
The funds were transferred on Low's instructions through a Hong Kong entity with Michel acting as an intermediary to ensure the money was "cleaned" and could not be traced to illegal sources.
While Low had asked for lobbying help to drop the 1MDB case and later arrange a meeting for then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak with Trump, he concurrently also lobbied for China's interest - specifically for the deportation of Chiese dissident Guo Wengui. Guo is referred to as "PRC National A".
The criminal complaint said, around two weeks after the first meeting in Bangkok, Davis, Michel and Broidy travelled to Hong Kong to meet Low again, who was this time accompanied by a minister of China.
The identity of the minister was not revealed and was only referred to as "PRC Minister A".
"On or about May 18, 201 7, Person A (Michel) Person B (Broidy) and Davis travelled to Hong Kong and were transported to Shenzhen, China, where they met with Foreign National A (Low) and PRC Minister A in a hotel suite," it said.
The criminal complaint said the minister spoke about Guo's alleged crimes and the need for him to be returned to China. He also raised difficulties in scheduling a meeting with high-ranking US officials ahead of a visit to Washington DC.
The US lobbyists were ultimately unsuccessful in getting Guo deported.
Low's access to a Chinese minister, however, highlights his clout amid claims by the Malaysian police that the fugitive is hiding out in Macau.
Beijing denies hiding Low
Beijing has maintained that it was not harbouring Low.
"The Chinese police has followed and investigated meticulously each and every relevant clue we received from the Malaysian police in a sincere and responsible manner.
"Unfortunately, no relevant individuals have been found and the Malaysian side has been informed accordingly. The abovementioned accusations are groundless and unacceptable.
"The position of the Chinese government on combating crime is consistent and clear. China does not and will never shelter foreign criminals," the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had said.
Low is wanted in Malaysia to stand trial over the multi-billion ringgit theft of funds belonging to the state-owned 1MDB.
He is accused of being a key facilitator for Najib in the theft of 1MDB's funds. Najib is presently standing trial over 21 charges of money laundering and four charges of abuse of power over RM2.28 billion belonging to the state fund.
Separately, he has also been found guilty on three counts of money laundering, three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power over RM42 million traceable to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary.
He is appealing his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine.
The US criminal complaint said the lobbyist was also unsuccessful in convincing the DOJ to drop the 1MDB case.
However, the US lobbyist found some success in arranging a meeting between Najib and Trump. Najib met Trump on Sept 12, 2017 during an official visit. - Mkini
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