Malaysia’s immigration department has cancelled the passport of the elusive fugitive financier, Jho Taek Low, aka Jho Low.
Low is wanted for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in relation to his role in allegedly embezzling billions from the state sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB.
Officials had previously issued a warrant for his arrest, with Low declining to return to Malaysia to face the music. Instead, reports surfaced that he offered to let authorities come to Dubai, where he is believed to be staying, and speak to him there. Mahathir’s government denied such a request, and said that the only place Low would be answering questions, would be from Malaysia.
Immigration officials are fulfilling a request issued from the MACC chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, who asked that they revoke Low’s travel documents.
No doubt, investigators are hoping that with limited access to legal travel, Low will eventually be forced to return home to Malaysia. However, it is not known if Low holds any other nation’s passport. While it is illegal for a Malaysian to hold any other passport, there are many ways to circumvent this law, especially for the eye-wateringly wealthy.
Low, a billionaire believed to be at the center of 1MDB’s deal-making, has avoided authorities for years, despite theoretical Interpol assistance that the previous government is said to have requested.
Spending much time aboard a superyacht he claimed not to own, he traveled freely around Southeast Asia on NOT his boat, the Equanimity, until earlier this year. In March, it was seized by United States Department of Justice officials, who claimed that it was one of the many purchases made by Low with funds derived from 1MDB.
We’ll start planning that welcome home party now, Jho. Need to check if Jamie Foxx is available, though.
