By Selangor Journal Staff
PETALING JAYA – Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho maintained his innocence after being charged in court over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ).
A spokesman for Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, who was charged in absentia at a US court yesterday, said the businessman held no formal position at 1MDB, nor was he ever employed by Goldman Sachs or the governments of Malaysia or Abu Dhabi.
“The US Department of Justice specifically states that the charges in the indictment are allegations, and that Mr Low is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“Furthermore, the bond offerings detailed in the indictment were undertaken openly and lawfully between experienced, well-regulated financial institutions and government entities,” the spokesman said in a statement issued by a public relations firm based in Sydney, Australia on his behalf.
News reports said the DOJ also arrested former Goldman Sachs banker Ng Chong Hwa in Malaysia on Thursday, while the former 1MDB official, Low Taek Jho, remains at large.
Another ex-Goldman official, Tim Leissner, pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $43.7mil (RM182.27mil) in restitution of ill-gotten gains.
The men were charged with conspiring to launder billions of dollars from 1MDB and conspiring to bribe officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Jho Low, together with Roger Ng and Tim Leissner, are the first individuals to be charged in the US in relation to 1MDB.
Jho Low, who previously said he did consulting work for 1MDB, is portrayed by some global investigators as the mastermind behind some of the schemes involving missing funds.
Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, who was one of the prime minister’s advisers during Pakatan Harapan’s first 100 days in power, said earlier this week that Jho Low was still attempting to broker an immunity deal with authorities.
According to Daim, Jho Low had reached out as recently as last week, seeking immunity in exchange for assistance in finding assets linked to 1MDB.
The statement issued by Jho Low’s legal firm had asked for the public to keep an open mind regarding the case until all the evidence comes to light as he believed that he would be vindicated.
“Mr Low maintains his innocence,” read the statement.
The DoJ on Thursday (Nov 1) charged Low along with two former Goldman Sachs bankers.
