THE Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) has been urged to update the public on their search for fugitive financier and alleged 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal mastermind Low Taek Jho @ Jho Low.
This comes after Billion Dollar Whale authors and award-winning former Wall Street Journal journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope – who first broke the 1MDB story back in 2015 – recently claimed that Low was photographed in Disneyland Shanghai, China, in 2019.
The revelation was made on the heels of the duo’s latest online campaign to find Low, following former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s jailing over 1MDB-related corruption.
In a statement today, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng claimed there has been no progress from the police on Low’s whereabouts, with the last public update made in December.
At the time, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said that Interpol had issued “Red Notices” for Low on June 11, 2018, and that they are only accessible for viewing by enforcement agencies.
“Since the police are not making much progress, perhaps they (PDRM) can ask both Tom Wright and Bradley Hope for help to provide information on Jho Low,” Lim said.
The former finance minister also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob “must not forget” that Low and Najib were “primarily responsible for the largest financial scandal in history”.
“Since Najib is serving 12 years in prison, Jho Low must also go to prison for his role in helping Najib rob the nation in the RM52 bil 1MDB scandal,” he added.
“Owned up”
Lim also noted that former attorney-general Tan Sri Apandi Ali had recently owned up to arranging meetings between the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and legal representatives of Low in May this year.
The Bagan MP claimed that Ismail had “sanctioned” the meeting, where Low had allegedly offered to pay the Malaysian Government RM1.5 bil as part of a settlement to drop his criminal charges against him.
“What is unusual is that UMNO leaders do not appear to be interested in nabbing Jho Low,” Lim claimed further.
“During the UMNO special briefing last Saturday (on Aug 27) on Najib being sent to jail after losing his final appeal at the Federal Court, no mention was made by UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on asking the Government to redouble efforts to capture Jho Low,” he noted.
Even though Low’s RM1.5 bil offer was eventually rejected in the end, Lim said Ismail was in the wrong for allowing the AGC to meet with Low.
“Agreeing to meet gave the shameful impression that Malaysia was willing to negotiate with a wanted criminal,” he said. “There should be no meeting nor discussion but to go all out to hunt down Jho Low.”
Low is currently on the run and his exact whereabouts have not been ascertained. China has repeatedly denied harbouring the fugitive.
Low has since been charged in absentia in the US, as well as back home in Malaysia, for alleged crimes linked to 1MDB, including money laundering.
Najib, meanwhile, is currently serving time in Kajang Prison after the Federal Court last month upheld his conviction, RM210 fine and 12-year sentence in his SRC International RM42 mil corruption case.
SRC International is a former 1MDB subsidiary. Najib used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers. – Sept 1, 2022
Main photo credit: MSN
