Wan Junaidi: Bringing Jho Low back 'not impossible, but not easy either'

KUALA LUMPUR: Bringing fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, back to face justice is not an easy task, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic).

Jho Low, who is believed to be in China, is wanted by Malaysian police over his alleged role in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption and bribery scandal.

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Wan Junaidi said bringing him back from China is not possible because Malaysia does not have an extradition agreement with that country.

"We cannot blame the government because we do not have an agreement with a certain country.

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"Even if we appealed, China may say it is just a diplomatic application and ignore it.

"So, in such a situation, it may become a stumbling block to the authorities like the police or Home Ministry,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Universiti Malaya-National University of Singapore Hybrid: Constitutional Amendments and The Basic Structure in Malaysia Symposium here on Friday (Oct 14).

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Asked if it was impossible to bring the fugitive to Malaysia, he said "I wouldn't say impossible, but it is not easy".

Jho Low has been charged in Malaysia and the United States over allegations that he was the mastermind behind siphoning US$4.5bil (RM21.16bil at current rates) from 1MDB. – Bernama