FUGITIVE financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, has been an elusive figure. The latest news is that he is likely protected by allies in China.
This comes from Damansara MP Tony Pua and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, with the duo also claiming that friendly parties probably had to shelter Low due to them being implicated in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal as well.
Of course, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador has proclaimed that Bukit Aman will not give up the hunt for Low, stating that the police are gearing up to bring him back to Malaysia to face justice.
Still, though Low remains sheltered somewhere, there is no reason not to experience the mind-boggling shock from some of the interesting and outright strange things that he has said over the course of the investigation all over again.
Here are some choice quotes:
Asylum, huh?
A rather recent development comes from Low claiming that a country had offered him asylum in August 2019, based on the political persecution he had been subjected to, as well as the violation of his human rights.
In a report by The Straits Times, which had an email interview with Low, the tycoon-on-the-run was quoted as saying he had “serious personal safety concerns and therefore will not comment on my location or other such information.”
“However, I can confirm that I was offered asylum in August 2019 by a country that acts in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights on the basis of the political persecution to which I have been subjected and the continuing violation of my human rights,” said Low.
This was further corroborated by the IGP, who had confirmed that Low had been offered asylum by a country. However, he did not mention which country.
Political persecution?
At one point, when FocusM managed to get in touch with Low’s lawyers last year, they said that Low calls the narratives portrayed in the media “based on unproven allegations, advanced by interested parties with questionable motives.”
“Mr Low will not submit to any jurisdiction where he faces unfair, improper and pre-judged proceedings, and unfortunately the Mahathir regime has made clear that Mr Low will not receive a fair trial in Malaysia,” said Low’s lawyers. This was when Dr Mahatir Mohamad was prime minister and Pakatan Harapan (PH) was in power.
Not AmBank
Apparently, in November 2015, Low had told authorities that he did not make any suggestions to former prime minister Najib Razak to open any bank accounts with AmBank, and claimed that he did not know how many accounts Najib had with the bank at that time.
This, according to a report by FMT, came to light when his witness statement surfaced, with Low quoted as saying he “did not know Nik Faisal (Ariff Kamil) was the authorised person to manage his (Najib’s) accounts.”
This follows the testimony of former AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang, who testified that Low had introduced him to Najib in January 2011 for the purpose of opening bank accounts.
Merely an intermediary, and not a mastermind
Low also told The Straits Times, in his first media appearance in four years, that ultimately, he was not the mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal, and that he was merely an intermediary and an introducer.
Continuing his claims that the charges against him were politically motivated, he said that “people and companies act as introducers or intermediaries all the time.”
“This is not a unique situation. I was requested to assist because of my good relationships with influential foreign businessmen and decision makers,” he said.
He even went so far as saying that his “professional connections” had helped Malaysia build strong ties with key allies, particularly Saudi Arabia. He claimed this has boosted Haj pilgrimage quotas for Malaysian Muslims and investments in financial, real estate and other sectors in Malaysia.
Philanthropist at heart
Low claimed that he had “multiple brushes with cancer” so he has now turned his attention to cutting-edge cancer research.
“I would cherish the opportunity to reinvigorate my philanthropic efforts and to give back to the community and help others in any way I can,” he told The Straits Times. – June 25, 2020
