Global Courant 2023-05-31 08:56:00
PETALING JAYA – Alleged 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal mastermind Jho Low is suspected to be in Shanghai, said an author of the book that documented the role of the Malaysian fugitive in the financial fraud linked to the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, amid the news that one of his associates has died.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had previously confirmed that it suspected Low was in a gambling haven and China’s Macau Special Administrative Region, in a written response to the Al Jazeera news network.
However, Billion Dollar Whale co-author Bradley Hope claimed Tuesday that Low is, in fact, under house arrest in Shanghai.
“Jho Low was in Macau a lot from 2015-2018, as well as Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Thailand, but after the election defeat of Najib (Razak), his movements were more confined to the mainland.
“We at @WhaleHunting_ believe he is under house arrest in Shanghai,” he tweeted.
The report also revealed that Kee Kok Thiam, who was arrested and released by the MACC earlier this month, was one of several individuals who confirmed with authorities that the fugitive financier Low was in Macau, along with a few others identified in the investigation. are wanted in connection with the insolvent Malaysian fund 1MDB.
Kee died of a stroke on Monday, his lawyers said on Wednesday.
Malaysian daily Sin Chew said a check at the Jinjang Funeral Parlor in Kepong on Tuesday confirmed Kee was briefly awake, with the funeral on Wednesday morning.
Several people who were present and believed to be relatives said they “didn’t know anything” when approached.
Kee was arrested when he arrived in Kuala Lumpur on May 3 after overstaying his visa in Macau. He was released by the anti-graft regulator after his statement was recorded.
According to the obituary, Kee, 56, will be cremated on Wednesday at Kepong Crematorium in Kuala Lumpur.
Kee would be one of Low’s closest associates.
Malaysian authorities have been trying for years to repatriate Low, who was first charged in absentia by a Malaysian court in 2018 on eight counts of money laundering and subsequently issued an arrest warrant for his alleged role in orchestrating the 1MDB fraud.
Low publicly declared his innocence that same year. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
