KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho today said charges levelled against him over alleged embezzlement of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), are distractions from the failures of (Tun) "Dr Mahathir Mohamad's regime".
He said this in a statement issued through his attorneys after he and four others were charged in absentia over offences related to 1MDB, The Star Online reported.
Maintaining his innocence, the report said Low, better known as Jho Low, said he believed he will not get a fair trial in Malaysia, claiming that the government has no interest in the rule of law.
“As has been previously stated, Low will not submit to any jurisdiction where guilt has been predetermined by politics and there is no independent legal process.
"These 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.” the report quoted the statement.
The statement further mentioned that the charges were no more than a continuation of the trial by media and political reprisals by Dr Mahathir.
"It is clear that 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,” the statement read, as quoted by the news portal.
It was reported that arrest warrants have been issued against Low and four others following criminal charges levelled against them in absentia in Kuala Lumpur today.
The four other individuals are former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, 45, former executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, 53, and former 1MDB officers Geh Choh Heng, 47, and Eric Tan Kim Loong, 40.
According to the file search conducted by the press through the court’s e-filing website, seven cases have been filed against them in four separate Sessions Courts.
In August, the police had filed criminal charges against Low who is the central figure in the 1MDB scandal and his father Tan Sri Larry Low Hock Peng over money allegedly stolen from 1MDB.
The money laundering charges were brought against the duo in absentia.
It was reported that Low, who is being hunted by police, and wanted in Malaysia, Singapore and several other countries, is believed to be hiding either in China or Abu Dhabi, but to date, his actual whereabouts is not known.
He has been placed on Interpol’s Red Notice since October 2016.
The Malaysian Immigration Department had revoked Low’s passport upon the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s request.