BANGI: The settlement agreement between the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, is separate from Malaysia's ongoing efforts to apprehend the businessman, said 1MDB Asset Recovery Taskforce chairman, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said there is a difference between Malaysia's pursuit of Jho Low and the actions undertaken by the DOJ.
Johari, who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister, clarified that the DOJ has initiated separate criminal proceedings against Jho Low.
"Whatever action they (US) take against Jho Low is their prerogative. However, any recovery they make will be returned to Malaysia.
"Our current issue concerns the settlement agreement made by the previous government with Goldman Sachs, where they agreed to pay an additional US$1.4 billion (RM6.59 billion) on top of the US$2.5 billion (RM11.78 billion) promised.
"The US$2.5 billion has been paid, and they (DOJ) have committed to pay the US$1.4 billion.
"There's a dispute here because they don't want to pay, claiming we have already received a lot of money, but we haven't received everything yet," he told reporters after launching the Palm Oil Technology of Transter (TOT) by Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) 2024 here today.
Recently, Jho Low was reported to be surrendering assets worth over US$100 million (RM471 million), including a luxury apartment in Paris and artworks by Claude Monet and Andy Warhol.
The action was taken to settle civil forfeiture cases related to his involvement in the corruption scandal and misappropriation of funds from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
These seized assets add to nearly US$1 billion (RM4.19 billion), which includes a US$120 million (RM503 million) superyacht that was previously seized from Jho Low and his family.
A Malaysian official reportedly stated that the country will continue its pursuit of Jho Low, despite his reported settlement with the US DOJ over 1MDB assets.
The official stressed that this agreement does not deter Malaysia from seeking Low's apprehension, underscoring the country's commitment to justice in the ongoing investigation.