Jho Low charged in absentia again

KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive Low Taek Jho has been charged again in absentia with seven charges involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

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

In an immediate reply through his attorneys, the businessman – better known as Jho Low – continued to maintain his innocence, saying he will “not submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been pre-determined by politics and there is no independent legal process”.

Jho was charged with five charges under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 yesterday.

These offences involved him receiving US$1.03bil (RM4.28bil) from 1MDB through his company Good Star Ltd.

Jho also faced two other joint charges with Tan Kim Loong, 40, under the same Act involving US$1.26mil (RM5.24mil).

Another individual, Tang Keng Chee, 53, who is a 1MDB officer, faced three charges.

He was charged with two counts under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 for allegedly receiving US$6.7mil (RM27.8mil).

Tang was also charged with criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code for transferring US$700mil (RM2.9bil) from 1MDB to Good Star Ltd.

Former general counsel of 1MDB, Loo Ai Swan, 45, was charged with two counts under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 for receiving US$6mil (RM24.9mil).

The fifth individual, Geh Choh Heng, 47, faced one charge of criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code for allegedly transferring US$125mil (RM520mil) from 1MDB to Good Star Ltd. Geh was then the executive director of finance for 1MDB.

A source told The Star that the charges were filed yesterday morning by the Police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), with the consent of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

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.

“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,” said the spokesman.