“We are trying to arrest Jho Low said PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today at a press conference.
But he said the elusive businessman-fugitive whose real name is Low Taek Jho is not in the country.
“We don’t have extradition rights where he is staying,” said the prime minister today.
With this statement, Mahathir confirmed that a warrant has been issued against the billionaire financier by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
When pressed by the media on the reasons given for the arrest warrant to be issued, Mahathir said it was for his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
MACC issues arrest warrants for Jho Low, Nik Faisal https://t.co/Y61xJ8aDb9 pic.twitter.com/wyM6JYO42f
— theSun (@theSundaily) June 7, 2018
He also responded to reporters asking if the government knew where Low was hiding.
Dr Mahathir said he is in “many countries”.
Jho Low and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, the MACC said, are needed to help in the probe into the former 1MDB subsidiary.
However in an attempt to possibly stop an Interpol man-hunt against him, Low got his lawyers to send a response to the MACC’s public announcement.
He instructed his lawyers to get in touch with the MACC, offering his cooperation in the investigation.
However, this is deja-vu for the MACC. In 2015 Low promised he will cooperate with the MACC but he never turned up for questioning.
Later on, the MACC had a change of leadership and did make any efforts to seek Jho Low.
Critics said the MACC and the Malaysian government under ex-PM Najib Razak were trying their best to shield the fugitive from justice.
Jho Low’s and Nik Faisal’s testimony will be crucial in the current government’s to prosecute the wrong-doers in the global 1MDB scandal.