PUTRAJAYA - Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) lawyer Jasmine Loo Ai Swan has been arrested, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced on Wednesday.

He said that police arrested Loo last Friday, and she was placed under remand last Saturday.

Loo is said to be a close associate of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin, however, declined to reveal details of Loo’s arrest, including where she was apprehended.

He said Loo was being investigated under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, which carries a penalty of between two and 20 years of imprisonment and a fine.

Mr Saifuddin did not indicate how long the suspect was being remanded.

“I was made to understand that Loo is prepared to cooperate with the police and government,” he said.

Low is wanted by several governments for his alleged mastermind role in plundering billions of dollars from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

On Dec 4, 2018, the Magistrate’s Court issued arrest warrants against Low, Loo, former 1MDB executive director Casey Tang Keng Chee, former 1MDB official Geh Choh Heng and Low’s close associate Eric Tan Kim Loon after they failed to appear in court to face seven charges of money laundering related to 1MDB.

On May 3, Mr Kee Kok Thiam – another suspect in the 1MDB case – was arrested when he arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.

However, he died on May 30 after a stroke. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK