MALAYSIA has tried unsuccessfully to locate a fugitive businessperson on the run, Low Taek Jho, one of the key masterminds of the 1MDB scandal which cost losses worth RM52 bil.
Low is a wanted fugitive with an Interpol red notice issued against him and has been charged in absentia in US and Malaysian courts.
Strangely, Low has no problem in locating Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and the former’s representatives are even able to secure a meeting with the Attorney-General Chambers(AGC).
Idrus is wrong to allow the AGC to meet with Jho Low’s representatives. Instead of hunting Low down, Idrus should explain why the AGC is willing to meet with Jho Low’s representatives. Is Idrus not sending the wrong message that Malaysia’s top law officer is willing to deal with crooks and wanted fugitives instead of upholding the law without fear or favour?
Clearly Low continues to exert considerable influence in Government circles until he can engage former Attorney General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali to act and arrange meetings with the AGC and unnamed Government agencies on Low’s behalf.
Will Apandi clarify his relationship with Low, as well as explain the benefits he received from this relationship?
This is a pertinent question in view that Apandi had cleared former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak of any wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal back in 2016 during his tenure as AG.
By extension, clearing Najib of any wrongdoing will also benefit Low from any criminal liability over the largest financial scandal in the world amounting to RM 52 bil.
After the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government fell in 2018, Najib was charged with abusing his position as then PM and Finance Minister, as well as chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers, to receive gratification. He is also facing money laundering charges involving RM4.3 bil of 1MDB monies.
While the trial for these charges is ongoing, Najib was found guilty by the High Court on July 28, 2020 for abusing his power in relation to the approval of RM4 bil worth of loans from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
Unethical and illegal
He was also convicted of three counts each of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 mil of SRC funds that went into his personal bank accounts between Dec 26, 2014 and Feb 10, 2015 with a jail sentence of 12 years and a fine of RM210 mil.
As for the meeting, Apandi had revealed that it was to discuss the repatriation of monies allegedly siphoned by Low from 1MDB amounting to RM 1.5 bil to clear the latter of all criminal charges. Apandi said that the meetings were “positive” but were eventually aborted by the AGC.
DAP fervently objects to any deal with Low and the payment of either RM1.5 bil or any sum of money in exchange for absolving the fugitive of any crime committed.
This is not only immoral and unethical but also legally wrong. After all, all of Low’s assets amounting to billions of ringgit are liable to be confiscated upon being charged and convicted.
Lim Guan Eng is a former finance minister and the MP for Bagan.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main photo credit: FMT
