KUALA LUMPUR: The police will request the extradition of fugitive businessman Jho Low and four others if their locations are known, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun (pix) said today.
Low, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, was charged in absentia in connection with the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigation at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court
yesterday.
Low was charged along with Tan Kim Loong@Eric, 1MDB business development director Tan Keng Chee@Casey, 1MDB general counsel Loo Ai Swan@Jasmine and 1MDB executive director finance Geh Choh Heng@Terence.
“They faced a total of 13 charges involving losses of US$1.17 billion (RM4.2 billion),“ he said today.
Mohamad Fuzi also confirmed that police secured warrants to arrest all five whom he said have fled the country.
He added that police would seek Interpol’s aid as well as that of related jurisdictions to detain the group.
“If they are identified to be in any country, we will request for extradition through the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC),“ he said.
The Commercial Crime Investigations Department filed the charges in court after receiving consent from the AGC.
Jho Low was charged again in absentia with seven charges involving 1MDB. He was charged yesterday with four other individuals central to the investigation into 1MDB.
In August, police filed criminal charges against Jho Low and his father over money allegedly stolen from 1MDB.
A spokesman for Jho Low, through his attorneys, reportedly claimed that the latest charges are intended to create another false sense of security for the political loss that “the Mahathir (Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) regime” has brought upon itself due to its failures on current issues; disregard for the rule of law; and intentional misinterpretation of the Constitution.
“They are no more than a continuation of the trial by media and political reprisals.
The spokesman accused the government of having no interest in real justice, saying, “It is clear that Jho Low cannot get a fair trial in Malaysia, where the regime has proven numerous times that they have no interest in the rule of law.”
