KUALA LUMPUR: Former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali needs to clarify if the meetings he had helped to arrange between representatives of Low Taek Jho or Jho Low and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) were done to eventually drop the charges against the fugitive businessman.
DAP National Legal Bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh said it was a matter of public interest which needed to be verified.
"Apandi said he was approached by Kobre & Kim, from Washington DC, which represents Low, to assist in setting up meetings on their behalf with the AG at the end of May.
"Any attempt to settle Low's criminal cases in exchange for a sum of money can be a form of corruption, Apandi must disclose if he was informed by Low's representatives that this was Low's intention," he said in a statement today.
AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun yesterday confirmed that Low had made attempts to resolve the charges against him but all offers were rejected by the AGC.
Ramkarpal said as Apandi was the AG at the height of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal and had cleared former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's name of any wrongdoing at that time, Apandi should not have engaged with Low's representatives but instead demand for his surrender.
"Apandi should further disclose if he was paid for his services by Low. If he was paid by Low, the question arises as to whether the said payment was from 1MDB funds.
"Apandi has said that he was approached by Low's representatives to discuss the repatriation of monies allegedly siphoned by Low from 1MDB, he should confirm if these discussions included dropping possible criminal charges against Low as the AGC has confirmed that this was what Low wanted.
"It is strange that the very person who was once interested in bringing Low back to face charges in Malaysia is now involved in settlement negotiations with him," he said.
He added that Apandi should clear the air the soonest to avoid unnecessary speculation that may arise from such negotiations.
On Friday, The Edge, quoting sources, had claimed that, Low had offered RM1.5 billion to the Malaysian government to settle the charges against him.
Low is accused of siphoning money from 1MDB, and is facing a US$3.78 billion or RM16.82 billion lawsuit filed by 1MDB and four of its subsidiaries.