Jho Low should come home and face allegations, MACC deputy says

PETALING JAYA: Financier Low Taek Low (pix) who is sought over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal should return home and be answerable to the allegations made against him if he still had a tinge of concern for Malaysia.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said yesterday that with Malaysia being saddled in financial deficit with a major scandal like the 1MDB, the least Low, who is better known as Jho Low, could do is to turn up and help put the matter to rest.
"We talk about helping the country and Malaysians are chipping in doing so in some way or another. He, Jho Low, should do the same by helping the country and face up to the allegations made against him instead of making claims that he will be persecuted or the commission is being vindictive. Any court action is based on evidence and not on our whims and fancies. Why should we go to him? He should come back, face us and help the country if he truly cares for it," he told theSun.
Jho Low who was reported to be in Dubai last month was traced by police to Macau.
Having had major involvement in 1MDB and said to be the main figure behind the movement of the billions of ringgit tied up to the state investment arm, Jho Low is expected to face a string of charges related to the scandal.
Azam said with former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's stepson Riza Aziz being summoned for questioning for four days in a row last week, investigators are almost done recording statements from local witnesses or suspects in the probe.
"As for local witnesses, we do not have many to call up. We can say we have completed our work with them. We now seek the persons-of-interest who are overseas," he said.
On the freezing of RM1.1 billion suspected to be from 1MDB funds and found in 408 bank accounts belonging to individuals, political parties and NGOs, Azam said MACC had received appeals to lift the freeze from several of those affected.
"Many of them know very well why their accounts were frozen. My reply to them is to be patient and let us investigate before deciding if the freeze should be lifted or the funds should be returned to the government," he said.
It is believed that among the accounts of individuals that were frozen were that of high-ranking government officials and politicians.