KUALA LUMPUR: With former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) lawyer Jasmine Loo Ai Swan in police custody, Bukit Aman now has its sights on other fugitives linked to the multibillion ringgit financial scandal.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the 49-year-old was arrested by police at the Dang Wangi police headquarters last Friday.
“She came together with her lawyer when she was arrested. She has been remanded while we conduct a criminal breach of trust investigation,” he told reporters at Bukit Aman yesterday.
Razarudin declined to divulge details on Loo’s whereabouts before her arrest.
“We will conduct our probe and cooperate with other agencies in their investigations, including with the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“We will also check with the Securities Commission if Loo is wanted to assist in their investigations,” he said, adding that now that Loo has been nabbed, more arrests are possible in the near future.
Razarudin said police have never halted their investigations into 1MDB, which saw up to RM18.6bil of Malaysian public funds stolen and used to buy luxury properties, art work and mega yachts abroad.
“Rest assured, the other suspects still at large, including (fugitive businessman) Low Taek Jho @ Jho Low, are on our radar.
“We cannot reveal if we know the location of the suspects, as it could jeopardise our investigations and tactics,” he said.
Last May, the MACC revealed that Jho Low was hiding out in Macau.
In 2020, the Inspector-General of Police at the time, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador, also revealed that several individuals linked to 1MDB, including Jho Low, were hiding in China.
Among them were former SRC International chief executive officer (CEO) Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, who was believed to be in Hong Kong, and Loo, who was believed to be hiding in Shenzhen, China.
In Malaysia, only Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been convicted of crimes related to 1MDB at present. The former prime minister is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Loo’s lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad and Edmund Bon said she will reveal the facts and circumstances surrounding her years away from Malaysia.
“Our client has always treated Malaysia as her home.
“She seeks privacy and space to do what is necessary at this time,” said the lawyers from the legal firm AmerBon.
The firm added that Loo’s priority is to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their investigations and to facilitate and assist the Malaysian government in expediting its asset recovery efforts.
“She also looks forward to being reunited with her family as soon as possible,” the lawyers said, adding that Loo has absolute trust and confidence in the Malaysian judicial and legal systems.
“Loo has engaged only AmerBon advocates as her authorised legal representative and any queries are to be directed to us,” the lawyers said.
