‘Impossible’ for Jho Low to be hiding in UAE, says IGP
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INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police Abdul Hamid Bador today rubbished reports that wanted financier Low Taek Jho was hiding in the United Arab Emirates.
Hamid said it was illogical for someone who is being hunted to leave his current hiding place and seek refuge in another country.
The reports, he said, seemed to suggest that the UAE does not have proper security measures, so much so that even a wanted person could freely enter and hide there.
“We are always in contact with the UAE police; that’s why what was reported (that Jho Low is hiding in the UAE) is illogical.
“It is impossible that Jho Low is hiding in the UAE.
“We know where he is but he is being officially protected by that country,” the nation’s top cop told reporters after a function in Jerantut, Pahang, today.
Hamid was commenting on reports yesterday that Jho Low, a key figure in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, is currently in the UAE and seeking asylum elsewhere.
The Singapore Straits Times and other sources reported that Jho Low was offered asylum last August under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European Convention on Human Rights.
A spokesman for Jho Low reportedly said that the wanted man was in the UAE and travelling between Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East, where “he holds close relations with members of the royal families” and Europe.
“He’s protected under international law now, similar to Malaysia’s argument that Dr Zakir Naik will not be deported to India as he won’t get a fair trial there,” another source had said.
But the IGP was not convinced and described the reports as “lies” and “fairytales”.
“If he feels that he is not a criminal and was simply being victimsed, I will make sure he is treated in accordance with the law,” Hamid added.
Prosecutors in the ongoing 1MDB trial in Kuala Lumpur have accused former prime minister Najib Razak of conspiring with Jho Low to defraud the state investor.
Najib faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering the same amount. – November 1, 2019.