SINGAPORE (Nov 6): A cache of leaked correspondences has revealed that Low Taek Jho, aka Jho Low, fears that allegations against him would result in his extradition back to Malaysia, and is actively looking for a safe haven country to hide out.
See: Malaysia asks Interpol to trace Jho Low in 1MDB scandal probe
According to an online report by Malaysiakini, Low’s UK-based lawyer Demelza Hassani contacted the offshore law firm Appleby’s Cayman Islands office in an email on Aug 10, 2015, to inquire about extradition laws in the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Island (BVI).
In the email, Hassani wrote that Low has been subjected to allegations of financial wrongdoing in Malaysia. And given the nature of the allegations, Low is concerned about his global exposure.
Hence, Low is seeking expert advice on international law, which includes mutual legal assistance requests and/or global restraint orders.
According to Malaysiakini, Hassani sent another email to Appleby’s lawyers on Aug 11, 2015, specifically asking: “We are seeking advice in the event that the Malaysian authorities request the Cayman/BVI authorities to initiate extradition proceedings. Specifically we would like advice on the position if a warrant for our client’s arrest were to be issued or an Interpol red notice issued during his stay.”
“We would like to gauge whether Cayman/BVI would be considered a relatively safe place to travel to in the foreseeable future or whether you would advise the client to avoid entering the jurisdiction.”
“It would be useful to understand more generally the appetite in Cayman/BVI to extradite, particularly in the circumstances of politically motivated financial allegations.”
Hassani also asked if the Cayman Islands and BVI had any bilateral or multilateral extradition treaties, and what they might entail. And if there aren’t such treaties, she also asked if the two jurisdictions had ever extradited anyone on an informal, ad hoc basis.
According to widely published media reports, the money Low misappropriated from 1MDB were allegedly used to fund Barisan Nasional’s (BN) election campaign back in 2013.
Also, about RM2.6 billion ($837.1 million) of funds from 1MDB were allegedly transferred into PM Najib Razak’s personal bank account. Some of the funds were purportedly transferred through accounts and shell companies controlled by Low.
See: How Jho Low lied to banks to siphon 1MDB money into Good Star
In July, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) filed its third lawsuit to seize about US$540 million ($747 million) worth of assets that were allegedly acquired through misappropriated funds from 1MDB.
Along with the previous two civil forfeiture complaints, the DoJ is looking to recover assets worth about US$1.7 billion that it says were purchased with funds siphoned from 1MDB.
See: US moves to seize additional $747 mil of assets linked to 1MDB scandal
Some of the assets include a private jet, the superyacht “Equanimity”, real estate properties, as well as expensive gifts given to actor Leonardo Dicaprio and model Miranda Kerr.
See: How Jho Low allegedly spent the money from 1MDB
However, Low has constantly denied all wrongdoing over the 1MDB scandal, instead painting the allegations as being “politically motivated”. He has also said that the lawsuits were inappropriate and deeply flawed.
See: Jho Low denies wrongdoing claims linked to 1MDB
