SEPANG: Graft investigators have started questioning former 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) general counsel, Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, over allegations of corruption and money laundering, says Tan Sri Azam Baki.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner said that his officers recorded statements from Loo over three days from Sept 4.
“If need be, we will seek assistance from the police for additional days,” Azam said when met at the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Research Conference yesterday.
He also said that Loo was not under the MACC’s custody but the police’s.
“Since she is already under police custody, there is no requirement for us to remand her,” he explained.
Loo had surrendered herself at the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on July 7.
She is said to be a close associate of Jho Low, who was charged in court over the 1MDB financial scandal.
Aside from her, the MACC had, in May, questioned Kee Kok Thiam, believed to be one of Jho Low’s close associates, after he was repatriated.
However, Kee died due to a stroke on May 29.
On whether there were more assets bought by Loo using 1MDB money to be recovered, Azam said so far, what authorities had found were those revealed by the police recently.
“If there are other assets, we will do our best to bring back the money and assets,” he said.
On Tuesday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that millions in assets bought by Loo using 1MDB money would be returned.
He said police had effectively concluded their investigations involving Loo, which showed that she had assets in several countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.
Police were in the midst of completing the full seizure of several assets linked to her, including two Pablo Picasso paintings and an apartment in London.
According to police, Loo had signed a statutory declaration on Aug 23, stating that she would return assets linked to 1MDB.
Asked if authorities were closing in on their hunt for fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, having questioned Loo and Kee, Azam replied: “If you ask my opinion, I believe not yet... still far (from getting to Low),” he said.
On May 5, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government wants to bring the fugitive businessman back to face justice as soon as possible, despite facing a complicated process in its bid to do so.
Anwar had said that the government was negotiating with overseas authorities to secure the return of Low but refused to confirm the whereabouts of the fugitive businessman.
Then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani had said investigations into Jho Low in relation to the 1MDB case would continue until he was successfully returned to the country.
He said the police and the MACC were working to bring back the fugitive businessman.
“Jho Low was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 in 2018, although he did not appear (in court).
“The police have opened an investigation, and if (Jho Low) can be returned to Malaysia, of course we will pursue the charges.”
