Hamzah: No bounty for info on Low

Jho Low

THERE is no need to place a bounty on the whereabouts of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

“The police are of the view that the Red Notice issued by Interpol is better as it uses the element of cooperation and intelligence information which is accurate,” he said on the issue of a reward for those who have the latest information on Jho Low or his associates.

Hamzah said this in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong).

Hamzah noted that authorities in 195 countries under the auspices of Interpol are responsible for cooperating and providing intelligence information to Malaysia so that extradition actions could be taken against Jho Low.

“Every piece of information on the whereabouts of Jho Low in a foreign country is carefully scrutinised by the police here,” he said.

The Red Notice was issued against Jho Low in 2018.

Last month, journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope claimed that Jho Low had been spotted in Macau.

Wright, who co-authored The Billion Dollar Whale based on Low’s dealings and escapades, posted photographs of the alleged fugitive which was said to have been obtained through Twitter.

Both of them had previously claimed that Jho Low was seen in Shanghai Disneyland.

Hamzah also told RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) that apart from the Red Notice with Interpol, the Royal Malaysian Police here are also working with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Singapore to trace Jho Low’s whereabouts.

He said that members of the public could provide information on Jho Low through WhatsApp via the the CCID Infoline at 013-2111222 or to any police station.

On Sept 8, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the police have filed 13 charges against Jho Low in court in absentia involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

However, he said that extradition requests for the fugitive businessman could not be initiated as none of the Interpol member countries have confirmed his whereabouts in their respective countries.