Jho Low ‘not in China’ as searches for fugitive prove fruitless after Malaysian tip-offs
Kuala Lumpur continues to seek help to track down businessman accused in several countries over 1Malaysia Development Berhad financial scandal
Beijing has investigated multiple recent tip-offs from Malaysia that its fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho was in China, but none turned out to be valid, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Low, 37, is accused of corruption, bribery and money-laundering by law enforcement agencies in several countries in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal.
The US Department of Justice has said an estimated US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by high-level officials of the fund and their associates.
The tip-offs from Malaysia have led to a search of a hotel on the mainland, and the tracing of a phone number provided by Kuala Lumpur, said a senior official familiar with the case.
Despite China’s formidable surveillance system, Chinese police found no clue of the whereabouts of Low, popularly known as Jho Low, in a search of the hotel that lasted for over 10 days and included going through the guest list and video footage, according to the source.