Letters | Who can Malaysia blame for its failure to capture Jho Low?

In October, Malaysia was called out by Human Rights Watch when police detained 12 people, including two ruling coalition politicians, for more than two weeks without bail or trial under the draconian Security Offences (Special Measures) Act. This law is often used as an excuse to violate international human rights standards on the right to a fair trial.

Considering the country’s questionable justice system, it is not shocking that Malaysian fugitive, Jho Low, has reportedly been granted asylum by a country that acts in line with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European Convention on Human Rights.

This came after a whirlwind of a year for Low, including reaching a billion-dollar settlement with the US, and getting his Cypriot passport revoked, all while remaining in hiding.

Malaysia’s police chief has been vocal about his efforts to bring Low – the alleged mastermind of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal – back to Malaysia to stand trial. This month, he criticised the authorities of the country harbouring Low for their lack of sincerity and blamed them for his inability to get Low back to Malaysia by the end of the year.