MACC issues alert to Interpol for Jho Low, two foreigners

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Latheefa Koya – Bernama file photo

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) has issued an alert to Interpol following the issuance of warrants of arrest against three individuals including fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, who were charged in absentia in a Kuala Lumpur court on Monday, said chief commissioner Latheefa Koya

The other two wanted individuals were British Patrick Andrew Marc Mahony and Saudi Tarik Essam Ahmad Obaid.

“MACC has sent an alert to Interpol for them to be brought back and to secure them in court,” she told reporters after attending a Symposium on Gender Mainstreaming And Women Empowerment To Fight Corruption, here today.

According to Latheefa, they were charged in absentia in a Kuala Lumpur court on Monday for criminal conspiracy related to abetments in the laundering of US$69 million.

The MACC filed the applications for the warrants of arrest at the Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and the applications were registered in the presence of Magistrate S. Mageswary.

In the applications, the MACC also filed charges against Jho Low, Tarek Obaid and Patrick Mahony under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 and the MACC Act 2009, for the purpose of obtaining the warrants of arrest against them.

Under the charges, Low Taek Jho, Tarek Essam and Patrick Mahony were indicted with jointly conspiring with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to use his position to acquire commissions on Feb 24, 2011 and June 14, 2011.

Latheefa said MACC was charging the three as they might have access to details on the money.

She said it was part of MACC’s ongoing recovery-cum-investigation on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and SRC international.

She said the MACC laws were adequate to charge any non-Malaysian if any act of bribery happened in Malaysia.

MACC could also charge any Malaysian and permanent resident as well if an act of bribery took place abroad, she said. – Bernama