KUALA LUMPUR – Police remain hopeful of their chances to locate fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, who is wanted for his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that police have never strayed from their search for Low.
He also drew comparisons with former 1MDB lawyer Jasmine Loo, who was arrested by police here on July 7.
“I have said this many times before, ‘mana mungkin jerat lupakan pelanduk’ (how can a trap forget a mouse deer)?
“Previously, reporters never asked us (police) about Loo, but we were able to bring her back. It’s the same (with Low),” Razarudin told reporters at the Royal Malaysian Police College Kuala Lumpur.
The top cop said this when asked to comment on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s assertion that authorities are still far away from detaining Low.
Yesterday, Azam said that Loo’s arrest has yet to lead authorities any closer to identifying Low’s whereabouts.
“I’m not sure. I think, if you ask my opinion, not yet…still far,” Azam said briefly when questioned by reporters on whether Loo’s questioning by MACC has revealed any leads on Low’s location.
This came after police had seized RM93.2 million worth of Loo’s assets and funds said to be linked with 1MDB.
Among the assets seized from Loo were nine art pieces worth RM8.5 million, including two paintings by renowned artist Pablo Picasso with a price tag of RM6 million.
Meanwhile, Azarudin also said that investigation papers on Loo had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers earlier in August.
However, probes against her under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001 are still ongoing.
In August last year, investigative journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope claimed that Low was allegedly spotted in Shanghai Disneyland, China in 2019.
The duo also asserted that no one in Malaysia is actively seeking Low’s return, quoting a source as saying that “too many powerful people are connected to Low…everything that he has done and knows could affect Malaysia.”
On May 5, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that it is the unity government’s position to have Penang-born Low be brought home as soon as possible, although the process involved is very complicated.
While Anwar did not confirm if Low is currently hiding in China as speculated, he said that Putrajaya is negotiating with various countries to expedite the process.
Previously, on March 15, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saiduddin Nasution Ismail told Parliament that while the Interpol Red Notice on Low remains active to date, none of the 195 Interpol state members had confirmed his whereabouts. – September 7, 2023