SINGAPORE (Mar 2): Low Taek Jho is said to have been in multimillion-dollar negotiations with Elliott Broidy, a top Republican fundraiser and ally of United States President Donald Trump, to make the probe into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal disappear.
See: US DoJ chief calls Malaysia's 1MDB scandal 'kleptocracy at its worst'
In a series of leaked emails dated last year, Broidy and his wife, Robin Rosenzweig, appear to have discussed setting up a consulting contract with Low to help put an end to US investigations into the multibillion-dollar scandal involving the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, according to The Wall Street Journal.
These emails included draft agreements between representatives of the Malaysian businessman, better known as Jho Low, and Rosenzweig's California law firm.
In March 2017, Rosenzweig is reported to have emailed an unsigned draft agreement stipulating various terms, including a US$75 million fee in exchange for help to get the US Department of Justice to drop its civil-asset forfeiture lawsuits within 180 days.
However, later messages in the email chain are said to reveal that the parties could not come to an agreement even two months later in May.
According to reports, the delay was due to 1MDB mastermind Low not wanting to pay Rosenzweig directly, but instead through his friend and former hip-hop star, Pras Michel.
Earlier reports had alleged that Low in 2012 had diverted some US$20 million to two limited-liability firms controlled by Michel, a former member of the Fugees.
See: How the 1MDB blockbuster starring Jho Low is dwarfing even Hollywood
Along with the contract drafts, the leaked emails are said to have included talking points for Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak ahead of his visit to Washington in 2017.
In one email dated Aug 7, 2017, Broidy is alleged to have sent an email to a colleague in his venture capital firm, outlining how Najib should approach his White House visit.
Carrying the subject line "Malaysia Talking Points *Final*", the talking points included making it clear that Malaysia fully backed US efforts to isolate North Korea.
The list is said to have also referenced US investigations into 1MDB, which “has cause unnecessary tensions… and could cause a negative reaction among Malaysians”, according to WSJ.
See: Could Najib’s White House visit end US scrutiny of 1MDB?
Chris Clark, a lawyer for Broidy and Rosenzweig, confirmed in a statement that Rosenzweig's law firm, Colfax Law Office Inc., was engaged by Michel "to provide strategic advice as part of a broader team to Mr Low."
"During the course of this engagement a number of strategies were discussed with Mr Broidy, Mr Michel, and other members of the team. But at no time did Mr Broidy or Ms Rosenzweig, or anyone acting on their behalf, discuss Mr. Low's case with President Trump, any member of his staff, or anyone at the US Department of Justice," the statement read.
According to WSJ, Clark also denied that Broidy or Rosenzweig’s law firm had ever represent Malaysia or any of its officials “in any capacity”.
"We are concerned that the Wall Street Journal is in possession of internal drafts of documents that were never used, and that were never intended to be shared with third parties," he said. "We question the legality and propriety of the manner in which the documents were obtained."
Details of the leaked emails have surfaced just days after Low’s US$260 million mega-yacht, the Equanimity, was seized in Bali by Indonesian authorities.
The yacht – which comes equipped with a helicopter landing pad, an on-board gymnasium, a cinema, a massage room, a sauna, a steam room, an experiential shower, and a plunge pool – is among several assets alleged to have been purchased using funds stolen from 1MDB.
See: Indonesia govt seizes Jho Low's US$260 mil superyacht in Bali
Other 1MDB-linked assets which were reported to have been seized, or that the DoJ is seeking to seize, include Low’s Bombardier Global 5000 jet in Singapore; jewellery which Low had gifted to celebrities Miranda Kerr and Elva Hsiao; and several properties, artwork and film rights.
Interestingly, the DOJ also wanted to seize proceeds from The Wolf of Wall Street movie, produced by Red Granite allegedly with funds stolen from 1MDB. Red Granite production house is co-owned by Riza Aziz, who is a friend of Low and the stepson to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib.
See: Luxury yacht only the latest of Jho Low's assets to be seized
