Cops will seek to extradite Jho Low if presence detected in other countries

Located in the coveted Bird Streets on a pie-shaped promontory known as the Crown, the 1.2-acre complex was famously owned by Jho Low.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman will request extradition of fugitive businessman Jho Low and four others if they are discovered in other countries, said Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

The Inspector-General of Police said this after Low, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, were charged in absentia in connection with the 1MDB investigation at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Tuesday (Dec 4).

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$1.17bil(RM4.2bil)," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 5).

The police will seek assistance of their counterparts overseas as well as Interpol to track all five of the accused, he added.

"All of them have fled the country.

"If they are identified to be in any country, we will request for extradition through the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC)," he said.

The IGP said the Commercial Crime Investigations Department Department filed the charges in court after receiving consent from the AGC.

It was reported Jho Low has been charged again in absentia with seven charges involving 1MDB.

He was charged, this time, with four other individuals central to the investigation into 1MDB.

The police also issued arrest warrants for all five after the charges were filed, the source said.

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, claimed that the latest charges are intended to create another false sense of security for the political loss that "the Mahathir 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.”