MACC to quiz lawyer Loo

 

Seeking answers: Azam says MACC will let the police question Loo first before they call her in for a statement.

exculsivePUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is planning to interview former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) lawyer Jasmine Loo Ai Swan as several investigation papers on her have already been opened, says its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Loo’s presence in the country is a boon for investigators who have been working on the case for some time now because she is one of the key figures in the investigations into 1MDB, Azam said when contacted.

“We have actually opened several files (on Loo) but have not managed to question her. We hope to be able to do so now that she is back in Malaysia,” he said.

Azam said the Inspector-General of Police had informed him of Loo’s arrest.

“We will let the police question her first. Once that is done, we would like to call her for her statement to be recorded,” he said.

Loo is believed to be linked to several cases, including the transfer of 1MDB funds and documentations.

On how soon the MACC could call up Loo, the chief commissioner said it depends on the time needed by the police to question her.

Criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, when interviewed, said the authorities should ascertain how Loo had managed to evade arrest and remain in hiding for over five years.

“The investigators need to find out how she did it and where she was.

“Did she receive some form of protection to keep the authorities at bay? These facts must be ascertained,” he said.

On Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed that Loo was arrested on July 7 and brought to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

She was remanded the next day as police carried out investigations for criminal breach of trust.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had said that with Loo in custody, the police have their sights on other fugitives linked to the multi-billion ringgit financial scandal, and assured that the probe into the case was never halted.

Loo’s lawyers, Amer Hamzah Arshad and Edmund Bon, said she would reveal the facts and circumstances surrounding her years away from Malaysia.

The lawyers added that Loo’s priority is to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their investigations and to facilitate and assist the Malaysian government in expediting its asset recovery efforts.

Loo is said to be a close associate of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, who was also involved in the 1MDB financial scandal.

In May, one of Jho Low’s aides, who was suspected of receiving money misappropriated from 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd, was repatriated to Malaysia.

The individual, later identified as Kee Kok Thiam, died of a stroke on May 29.

On Dec 4, 2018, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court issued arrest warrants against Jho Low, Loo, former 1MDB executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, former 1MDB official Geh Choh Heng and Jho Low’s close associate, Eric Tan Kim Loon, after they failed to appear in court to face seven charges of money laundering related to 1MDB. - Star