Malaysia moves to seize millions from 1MDB fugitive financier Jho Low’s father’s bank accounts

Money in the seven of his father’s accounts is believed to have originated from the state investment company

Authorities have seized a mansion belonging to the Low family in connection to investigations into 1MDB

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Men walk past a 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard in 2015. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:30pm, 29 Mar 2019Updated: 12:30pm, 29 Mar 2019

The Malaysian government took legal action on Thursday to freeze about 48 million ringgit (US$11.8 million) in bank accounts belonging to the father of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, The Edge newspaper reported.

The money in the seven of Low Hock Peng’s accounts is believed to have originated from state investment company 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the paper said, citing sources it did not identify.

The civil forfeiture action by the government was made under the country’s anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism financing act, which allows authorities to confiscate property without a prosecution, the paper said.

Authorities have seized a mansion belonging to the Low family in connection to investigations into 1MDB, The New Straits Times reported earlier this month.

ow, known as Jho Low, has been painted by prosecutors including those in the US as the alleged mastermind of a scheme to siphon money from 1MDB into personal accounts. Photo: AP

Low, known as Jho Low, has been painted by prosecutors including those in the US as the alleged mastermind of a scheme to siphon money from 1MDB into personal accounts disguised to look like legitimate businesses, and kicking back some of those funds to officials.