KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thurday (July 19) that he had no information on whether fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, had been detained in China.

Malaysia's China Press and Sarawak Report, citing an unnamed Hong Kong radio station, reported on Thursday that Low had fled to the mainland from Hong Kong. According to the unconfirmed reports, Low is being detained on the mainland pending Tun Dr Mahathir's planned visit to China next month.

When asked by reporters outside Parliament whether he had received news of Low's arrest, Dr Mahathir said: "I didn't know. Thank you for giving me the information."

In comments carried by local media, he added: "No information, all I know is that he is jumping from place to place.

"I hope he is arrested."

Asked if Malaysia and China had any extradition treaty, Dr Mahathir replied: "No, but they can always give him back to us."

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said on Thursday (July 19) he could not confirm the reports that the billionaire linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad corruption scandal has been captured.

"I have not gotten any information on that, and cannot respond to it," he told Malay Mail after a PLUS Berhad event.

During the press conference, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi said Malaysian police had previously managed to trace Low to Hong Kong, Macau and China, but do not have firm information about his current location

At an earlier press conference, he said an Interpol notice has already been sent out for the elusive businessman, reported The Star newspaper.

Said the police chief: "We are also not sure of his exact location. We don't have complete information.

"Based on our intelligence, we believe that he has travelled to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and China. That is the latest that we have. But we are not exactly sure of his current whereabouts.

"If we have his exact location, we will narrow it down and seek help from the relevant country. It is still an ongoing process."