KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's anti-graft agency issued a notice on Thursday (June 7) asking financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, and one other person to assist in the investigation into a former unit of debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has resumed a probe into SRC International, which has been linked to transfers of RM42 million into the personal account of former premier Najib Razak.
Mr Low, 37, has been named along with Datuk Seri Najib's stepson Riza Aziz in civil lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice, which alleged that about US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.
The department is seeking to seize about US$1.7 billion worth of 1MDB-linked assets, and is also pursuing a criminal probe.
Mr Low's whereabouts are unknown.
In a statement on Thursday, the MACC said it was also looking for 47-year-old SRC International director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil Nik Othman Arif Kamil.
Mr Low's last known address is 69 Tanjung Bungah Park, Tanjung Bungah, Penang, while Mr Nik Faisal's last known address is No. 17 and No. 19, Jalan Tun Teja 35/16, Alam Impian, Shah Alam, Selangor.
MACC urged the public who have information or know the two individuals to come forward to contact investigating officer Rosli Husain on 03-88700529 or 010-3187757.
"The MACC urges anyone who has information or knows both individuals to contact the investigating officer... or the nearest MACC office," the commission said.
The money involved in the SRC probe is just a fraction of billions of dollars allegedly siphoned from 1MDB, a scandal that dogged the last three years of Mr Najib's near-decade-long rule and one of the reasons why voters rejected him in a May election.
The former premier has denied any wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal.
MACC officers have already taken statements from Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor in connection with the SRC International probe.
Separately on Thursday, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysian authorities are hard at work to gather more information before nabbing Mr Low, 37.
"People have been asking me why Jho Low has yet to be arrested, and I replied that we just need a bit more time to gather enough information," Tan Sri Muhyiddin said in his first monthly ministerial address.
He urged the people to be patient. "I hope they can wait, but some people want action to be taken right now - or even yesterday if possible."
