Crime & Courts

Did anybody asked China about Jho Low?

KUALA LUMPUR: Journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope claimed that authorities in Malaysia were not going all out in their search for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, who is wanted in the 1Malaysia Development Board (1MDB) case.

The Billion Dollar Whale authors claimed that "nobody" in Malaysia is asking China for Jho Low.

Citing a source whose connected to the Chinese Communist Party and other high levels in Southeast Asia, Hope said it was clear that Jho Low had made a deal with the Chinese Government.

"He has complete free movement and nobody can mess with him. No foreign countries can interfere with Jho Low while he is in China," said Hope in a YouTube series called 'Where is Jho Low'.

Hope claimed Jho Low possessed a new passport, identity and enjoyed visa-free living in China following the deals he made for the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Jho Low had helped with these deals, as a result he is somebody they (the Chinese government) have to protect. This is as simple as that.

"The most interesting thing he (the source) said to me was that nobody in Malaysia; not the police, not the Attorney General's Office or the foreign corruption unit; nobody is asking China for Jho Low.

"Despite what we hear publicly, 'Oh, we are looking for him, please let us know if you find any tips', this person said that nobody in Malaysia is seeking Jho Low," said Hope.

He said the explanation was that essentially, there are too many powerful people in Malaysia connected to Jho Low that have not been really explored.

"The money they received, the relationship they have, the way in which the money just filtered through the whole system in a variety of ways. Maybe in some cases, people did not even realise it but they still got the money.

"As a result, nobody in Malaysia really wants Jho Low back. It is too explosive, everything that he has done, knows and could affect Malaysia," said Hope.

Wright described the matter as a "amazing thing"and should make Malaysians extremely angry.

Hope also said Jho Low felt safest in mainland China since Datuk Seri Najib Razak's political party was voted out of power. He also said Hong Kong remained as a base of operations for Jho Low's family, particularly his parents.

"They have been frozen out of Malaysia, so now, all their assets, everything is in Hong Kong. They are now Hong Kong residents where they live normal lives.

"We also heard reports of his sister being in Hong Kong but Jho Low is moving around a bit more and spending more of his time in mainland China than he was before," said Hope.

It was alleged that at least US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by Jho Low and other high-level officials of the fund and their associates.

He is also facing a US$3.78 billion or RM16.82 billion lawsuit filed by 1MDB and four of its subsidiaries.

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