HONG KONG: A fugitive Malaysian businessman at the centre of a global corruption probe that helped bring down his country’s prime minister has fled Macau and is understood to be in mainland China.
The exact whereabouts of Low Taek Jho – who had earlier skipped Hong Kong for the world’s richest casino hub while facing an Interpol arrest warrant – are unclear.
But sources have told the Post that Low, 37, is now on the mainland, having travelled from the former Portuguese enclave either by car or private jet.
The playboy businessman 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.
Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said on Wednesday that the authorities in Kuala Lumpur had received an email from their Macau counterparts on July 9 telling them that Low had left the gaming hub.
“The email did not specify when Low left Macau. It is hard to trace him as he is believed to be using multiple passports,” he said.
However, a security source in Macau told the Post: “It is almost without doubt safe to say that Low is now on the mainland. In fact, that is probably one of the reasons he came to Macau in the first place.’’
Next month, newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to visit China amid discussions between the two nations over major China-backed investments in the country.
On Tuesday, the gaming hub’s Judiciary Police confirmed that Interpol Macau, a subdivision of Interpol Beijing, had received “the request of the relevant country (Malaysia)” regarding Low, whom the Post revealed several days ago had slipped out of Hong Kong with his family and was hiding out in Macau. - SCMP
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