(July 19): Has Low Taek Jho, the alleged mastermind of the misappropriation of up to US$4.5 billion ($6.2 billion) from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) sovereign fund, been detained by the Chinese authorities?
According to Sarawak Report, the socio-political blogsite founded by investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown, which quoted a Hong Kong radio station, the Penang-born businessman who is better known as Jho Low was detained pending Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to China.
When asked about this by reporters at the Parliament lobby this morning however, Dr Mahathir said he is unaware of Low’s reported arrest in China, but hoped it is true and that he is brought back to Malaysia.
"I didn't know (but) thank you for giving the information that he is arrested but for what (reason), I don't know. You are better informed than the PM of Malaysia. I have no other information. All I know is that he is jumping from one place to another trying to avoid arrest," said Mahathir.
"I hope he has been arrested and is brought back to Malaysia. We don't have an extradition treaty with China but that does not mean they cannot hand over Jho Low to us," he added.
Dr Mahathir said he was not aware of that but confirmed that he would be going to China in mid-August.
Separately, Malaysian investigators have issued arrest warrants for two former executives of troubled state fund 1MDB, according to Bloomberg which quoted a person with knowledge of the matter.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is reportedly seeking 1MDB’s ex-general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan and former executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, according to the person who has asked not to be identified.
MACC on the hunt for 4 more 1MDB-related suspects
Loo, a Malaysian who studied law in the UK, was said to have been dubbed “1MDB Officer 3” by the US government, according to people familiar with the matter. The US also said the officer was 1MDB’s liaison to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the bank that helped the state fund raise US$6.5 billion, and that she received a US$5 million transfer among dozens of payments
Tang was involved with 1MDB from when it was still known as Terengganu Investment Authority, until 2011.
Bank Negara Malaysia summoned both of them for questioning in 2015, but they never appeared. By March 2017, former prime minister Najib Razak said they were no longer on the central bank’s radar as the previous domestic investigation had been concluded.
Former Malaysian premier Najib arrested; to be charged in court tomorrow
In the past few months, Low has been reportedly sighted in China, Hong Kong and Macau. MACC and the Singapore police has issued arrest warrants for Low and his alleged accomplices in the fund and foreign banks that were used to transfer the illicit funds.
Hong Kong declined request to arrest Jho Low in 2016: Singapore Police
