File photo of Jho Low taken at a 2014 New York social event.
GEORGE TOWN: Police have dismissed the possibility of fugitive businessman, Low Taek Jho or better known as Jho Low in Los Angeles, USA as reported by an international media last month.
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said police are confident Jho Low who is linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal is still hiding and getting protection in a country.
He declined to reveal the country concerned and said police are now negotiating with the authorities in the country to bring Jho Low back to Malaysia.
“I did not expect Jho Low to be so crafty to enter USA as American security is very tight. If it occurs under the nose of the American authorities, it would be extremely embarrassing. But I am confident he is still at the place which I mentioned and he is getting protection. It is still too early for me to say where…maybe Kazakhstan or other places.
“I am still patient and giving them time. We will cooperate with any country on police matters. I will try my level best to bring back Jho Low. I did not say he will be coming back at the end of this year, but I have set a deadline. He should be on trial in this country,” he said at the media conference here yesterday.
Earlier, he attended the 72nd Marine Police Force Day celebration at Region One Marine Police base in Batu Uban near here yesterday.
On Sept 28, an American entertainment portal, Page Six claimed Jho Low was spotted at a private dinner in Hollywood Hills.
In another development, Abdul Hamid said police would be calling Malay Dignity Congress secretariat chief executive, Prof Emeritus Zainal Kling soon to give his statement on allegations that he made racist statements at the event.
“Anybody can be called to give statement soon,” he said.
Zainal in his opening address at the congress held at Malawati Stadium, Shah Alam on Sunday, touched on issues relating to the Federal Constitution, the position of the Sultans and the special position of the Malays. — Bernama