PETALING JAYA – Alleged 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal mastermind Jho Low is suspected to be in Shanghai, said an author of the book that documented the Malaysian fugitive’s role in the financial fraud linked to the sovereign wealth fund, amid news that one of Low’s associates has died.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had earlier said that it suspected financier Low was in gambling haven and Chinese special administrative region Macau, in a written response to the Al Jazeera news network.
However, Billion Dollar Whale co-author Bradley Hope on Tuesday claimed that Low is under house arrest in Shanghai.
“Jho Low was in Macau a lot from 2015 to 2018, as well as Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Thailand, but after Najib (Razak)’s electoral defeat his movements were more restricted to the mainland.
“We at @WhaleHunting_ believe he’s under house arrest in Shanghai,” he tweeted.
The report also revealed that Mr Kee Kok Thiam, who was arrested and released by the MACC earlier in May, was one of several individuals who confirmed with the authorities that Low was in Macau, along with a few others wanted in the investigation tied to the insolvent Malaysian fund 1MDB.
Mr Kee died on Monday owing to a stroke, said his lawyers on Wednesday.
Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily said that a check at the Jinjang Funeral Parlour in Kepong town confirmed that there was a wake for Mr Kee on Tuesday, with the funeral held on Wednesday morning.
Several mourners who were present, believed to be family members, said they “know nothing” when they were approached.
Mr Kee, 56, was arrested upon arriving in Kuala Lumpur on May 3, having overstayed his visa in Macau. He was released by the anti-graft regulator after having his statement recorded.
According to the obituary, he would be cremated at the Kepong Crematorium in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
He was said to be one of Low’s close associates.
The Malaysian authorities have been trying for years to repatriate Low, who was first charged in absentia in 2018 by a Malaysian court with eight counts of money laundering and then issued a warrant of arrest for his alleged role in orchestrating the 1MDB fraud.
Low publicly declared his innocence that same year. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
