Govt working with international agencies to bring back Jho Low, says Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is working on expediting the extradition of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low through collaborations with international agencies, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang).

The de facto Law Minister said that the effort also involved the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“MACC has been cooperating with foreign enforcement agencies to obtain all information related to Low.

“Various efforts and negotiations through diplomatic channels are being implemented to speed up the process of bringing Low back to Malaysia,” she said in a written reply to Pang Hok Liong (PH-Labis) on Tuesday (May 23).

Pang was asking the minister whether the Government has or will request the Chinese Government to bring back the fugitive businessman, Jho Low to this country and when he will be brought back and the conditions.

Azalina also said that MACC has issued an Interpol Red Notice against Low since 2018 for his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.

“Low has been charged in absentia with one charge under subsection 28(1)(c) and read together with Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 on Feb 9, 2020 and three charges under Section 4(1) Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 on June 29, 2019,” she added.

In April, former Wall Street Journal reporter Bradley Hope in a report claimed that the Malaysian government may have been working on a deal with the Chinese government during the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit in March.

On May 5, Anwar said the government was negotiating with overseas authorities to secure the return of Low, but refused to confirm the whereabouts of the fugitive businessman.

According to Anwar, the process was very complicated because it involves another country, intelligence services and Interpol.