Bersatu's party accounts have been frozen by the MACC, just one day after the party declared its 2020 and 2021 accounts.
The matter was confirmed to Malaysiakini by Bersatu supreme council member, Muhammad Faiz Na'aman.
It is believed that the freeze is related to the MACC's probe on government funds amounting to RM92.5 billion of pandemic stimulus funds that were allegedly misappropriated.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, speaks to
supporters outside at Court of Appeal in Putrajaya, Malaysia Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. Photo: VC
Najib sent to Kajang Prison to serve his 12-year jail term
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has begun to serve his 12-year jail term at the Kajang Prison in Selangor after losing his final appeal in the Federal Court in his graft case involving RM42mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds.
Read more at https://bit.ly/3KlGCte
Top court upholds former leader’s 12-year jail sentence in 1MDB scandal
By AFP
Malaysia's highest court on Tuesday upheld former prime minister Najib Razak's 12-year jail sentence for corruption in the 1MDB financial scandal, a decision analysts said could slam the door to a political comeback.
Chief Justice Maimun Tuan Mat also issued a warrant of committal, which a lawyer said means Najib is going immediately to jail.
The 69-year-old former prime minister looked somber and dejected, surrounded by his wife Rosmah and two children as the verdict was read.
"We find the appeal devoid of any merits. We find the conviction and sentence to be safe," Maimun said on behalf of a five-judge panel of the Federal Court.
"It is our unanimous view that the evidence led during the trial points overwhelmingly to guilt on all seven charges."
Maimun said that "it would have been a travesty of justice of the highest order if any reasonable tribunal, faced with such evidence staring it in the face, were to find that the appellant is not guilty of the seven charges preferred against him."
Sankara Nair, a lawyer who is not involved in the case, told AFP that "with the court issuing a warrant of committal, Najib will be sent to prison immediately."
The Federal Court decision was handed down after the tribunal threw out a last-minute move by Najib's lawyers to recuse the chief justice from hearing the case, alleging bias on her part.
The final ruling on the jail sentence also came four years after his long-ruling party's shock election defeat in 2018, during which allegations he and his friends embezzled billions of dollars from state fund 1MDB were key campaign issues.
A lower court in July 2020 found Najib guilty of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over the transfer of 42 million ringgit ($10.1 million) from SRC International, a former unit of state fund 1MDB, to his personal bank account.
An appellate court in December 2021 denied his appeal, prompting him to go to the Federal Court for a final recourse.
Some analysts said the decision will likely derail any plans by Najib for a political comeback.
"If Najib is found guilty, he will be barred from standing in the next election. Obviously, his political career is gone," James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania, told AFP before the verdict was announced.
"Under Malaysian law, Najib cannot stand for this election and the next election," he said, referring to speculation that polls may be held in 2022.
Elections are not due until September 2023.
Najib and his ruling party were voted out in 2018 following allegations of their involvement in a multibillion dollar financial scandal at 1MDB.
He and his associates were accused of stealing billions of dollars from the country's investment vehicle and spending it on everything from high-end real estate to pricey art.
Despite the lower court sentence, Najib had not been sent to prison while the appeals process played out.
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has claimed trial to 45 charges of money-laundering involving RM72mil and criminal breach of trust and accepting bribes involving RM42mil.
This is the first time a serving Umno president has been hauled to court to face criminal charges.
For charges one to 10, Dr Ahmad Zahid, who was trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi, was accused of committing CBT involving RM20,833,132.99 belonging to the foundation.
The former deputy prime minister and home minister allegedly committed the offences at Affin Bank Bhd at Jalan Bunus here between Jan 13, 2014 and Jan 11, 2016.
The charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment between two and 20 years, whipping and fine, upon conviction.
For charges 11 to 18, Dr Ahmad Zahid was accused of receiving RM21,250,000 in gratification in his capacity as home minister.
The bribes were allegedly from Syarikat Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services as an inducement for the accused to assist the company obtain MyEG projects which is under the purview of the Home Ministry; Syarikat Data Sonic Group Bhd director Chew Ben Ben, with the company appointed to insert passport chips for five years or 12.5 million chips in Malaysian passports; and from Syarikat Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd director Azlan Shah Jaffril, with the company appointed as service provider of a one-stop visa centre for Pakistan and Nepal.
The offences were allegedly committed at Malayan Banking Bhd in Bangsar between Dec 7, 2016 and March 15 this year.
The charges under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carry a jail term of up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the sum of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the remaining 27 charges, Dr Ahmad Zahid was accused of money laundering involving RM72mil, said to be proceeds from unlawful activities by way of:
> Giving directions to deposit between RM600,000 and RM9.35mil into two bank accounts;
> Giving instructions to purchase two bungalow lots worth RM5.9mil in Kajang; and
> Instructing one Omar Ali Abdullah to convert RM6.8mil into 30 pieces of cheques for the purpose of purchasing fixed deposits in Maybank.
The offences were allegedly committed at Maybank in Bangsar and Marhaba Enterprise Sdn Bhd in Jalan Bukit Bintang between March 29, 2016 and April 11, 2018.
The charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 carry a jail term of up to 15 years and fine of not less than five times the sum involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, 65, who wore an orange batik shirt, appeared calm as the charges were being read out for about an hour.
At one point, he even turned around and smiled at the public gallery.
Counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik stood by him outside the dock as the court interpreter read the charges.
Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who was appointed to lead the prosecution by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), suggested that bail be set at RM2mil.
Hisyam asked that bail be paid in two instalments, to which Sri Ram argued: “The rule is that the accused must post bail on the same day, otherwise he may have been kept in custody. There must be no exception.”
Hisyam said there were judicial precedence in the cases involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor where the same court allowed bail to be posted in instalments, and added that there was no risk of his client escaping.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed bail at RM2mil in one surety, to be paid in two instalments.
“There is no question of this court according special treatment to anyone,” she remarked, ordering RM1mil to be posted yesterday and the balance to be settled by or on Oct 26.
A family friend of the accused posted the first bail instalment. Mention was fixed for Dec 14
- The Star by Nurbaiti Hamdan
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has claimed trial to 45 charges of money-laundering involving RM72mil and criminal breach of trust and accepting bribes involving RM42mil.
This is the first time a serving Umno president has been hauled to court to face criminal charges.
For charges one to 10, Dr Ahmad Zahid, who was trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi, was accused of committing CBT involving RM20,833,132.99 belonging to the foundation.
The former deputy prime minister and home minister allegedly committed the offences at Affin Bank Bhd at Jalan Bunus here between Jan 13, 2014 and Jan 11, 2016.
The charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment between two and 20 years, whipping and fine, upon conviction.
For charges 11 to 18, Dr Ahmad Zahid was accused of receiving RM21,250,000 in gratification in his capacity as home minister.
The bribes were allegedly from Syarikat Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services as an inducement for the accused to assist the company obtain MyEG projects which is under the purview of the Home Ministry; Syarikat Data Sonic Group Bhd director Chew Ben Ben, with the company appointed to insert passport chips for five years or 12.5 million chips in Malaysian passports; and from Syarikat Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd director Azlan Shah Jaffril, with the company appointed as service provider of a one-stop visa centre for Pakistan and Nepal.
The offences were allegedly committed at Malayan Banking Bhd in Bangsar between Dec 7, 2016 and March 15 this year.
The charges under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carry a jail term of up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the sum of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the remaining 27 charges, Dr Ahmad Zahid was accused of money laundering involving RM72mil, said to be proceeds from unlawful activities by way of:
> Giving directions to deposit between RM600,000 and RM9.35mil into two bank accounts;
> Giving instructions to purchase two bungalow lots worth RM5.9mil in Kajang; and
> Instructing one Omar Ali Abdullah to convert RM6.8mil into 30 pieces of cheques for the purpose of purchasing fixed deposits in Maybank.
The offences were allegedly committed at Maybank in Bangsar and Marhaba Enterprise Sdn Bhd in Jalan Bukit Bintang between March 29, 2016 and April 11, 2018.
The charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 carry a jail term of up to 15 years and fine of not less than five times the sum involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, 65, who wore an orange batik shirt, appeared calm as the charges were being read out for about an hour.
At one point, he even turned around and smiled at the public gallery.
Counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik stood by him outside the dock as the court interpreter read the charges.
Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who was appointed to lead the prosecution by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), suggested that bail be set at RM2mil.
Hisyam asked that bail be paid in two instalments, to which Sri Ram argued: “The rule is that the accused must post bail on the same day, otherwise he may have been kept in custody. There must be no exception.”
Hisyam said there were judicial precedence in the cases involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor where the same court allowed bail to be posted in instalments, and added that there was no risk of his client escaping.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed bail at RM2mil in one surety, to be paid in two instalments.
“There is no question of this court according special treatment to anyone,” she remarked, ordering RM1mil to be posted yesterday and the balance to be settled by or on Oct 26.
A family friend of the accused posted the first bail instalment. Mention was fixed for Dec 14 - The Star by Nurbaiti Hamdan
PUTRAJAYA: In an unprecedented turn of events, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will both be in court today.
After spending a night in the MACC lockup, investigators are bringing Rosmah to the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to face a slew of money laundering charges while the case management for one of Najib’s cases will take place at the same time.
Najib is facing some 32 charges including criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering of funds linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd and its offshoot, SRC International Sdn Bhd.
So far, Najib has been brought to court three times to face charges since July 4.
As for Rosmah, today will be the first time she will be formally charged in relation to money laundering activities.
It is believed that Rosmah could be slapped with up to 20 charges.
Rosmah, 67, will go down in Malaysian history as the first wife of a prime minister to be indicted.
The arrest came after she was questioned for more than four hours yesterday morning at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here.
The Star, followed by other media, broke the news of her arrest after the lunch break yesterday.
At 3.20pm, MACC confirmed her arrest.
The MACC made the arrest after being given the go-ahead by the Attorney General’s Chambers.
The commission also said that Rosmah would be charged under Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
However, Rosmah’s lawyers said they were unaware of the charges that would be brought on their client.
“We were only informed by the MACC of her arrest and that she would be brought to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to be charged tomorrow.
“They did not tell us the nature of the charges,” said Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent.
The media who were stationed outside the MACC building from 9am waited for Rosmah who was called in for questioning for the third time since June 5.
The investigations are related to the trail of funds from 1MDB and SRC International.
She arrived at the MACC headquarters at 10.42am, dressed in a light green baju kurung and a matching selendang.
As she walked past the crowd of reporters, she appeared calm and even stopped to shake hands.
Sources said that Najib was informed of his wife’s arrest.
“He appeared calm,” said a source when asked on Najib’s reaction to the news of Rosmah’s arrest.
Asked about Rosmah’s condition, Geethan said: “She’s ok.”
Rosmah was first called to the MACC on June 5 to answer questions on SRC International Sdn Bhd.
On Sept 26 and yesterday, she was interrogated over the 1MDB scandal and money laundering.
The first inkling of Rosmah being charged was on Sept 24 after MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Shukri Abdull was quoted as saying that the investigations on her had been completed and the report had been submitted to the Attorney General.
He said then that it was up to the AG to prosecute Rosmah.
Yesterday, Najib was also detained for questioning on matters related to 1MDB but in another location and by a different law enforcement agency.
While Rosmah was in MACC, Najib was giving his statement at the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Prevention Unit (Amla) headquarters at Menara KPJ in Jalan Tun Razak.
Pemantau Malaysia Baru president Datuk Lokman Noor Adam, who is also an Umno supreme council member, announced the day before on Facebook that Najib would be called in by the police at 10am yesterday.
Najib was taken into the building through a side entrance after he arrived at Menara KPJ at about 11am, giving the media the slip.
He managed to evade the press when he left the building from the elevated car park at 1.05pm, nearly three hours after he came to the Amla headquarters.
Yesterday morning, a white luxury MPV was seen leaving the couple’s house in Jalan Langgak Duta earlier in the morning.
However, it was not known whether it was transporting the couple or either one of them.
Prior to his questioning at Menara KPJ yesterday, Najib, who is Pekan Member of Parliament, was called up on Aug 27 and 30 and then on Sept 30 to have his statement recorded on the case.
In both instances, it was with the MACC.
Exactly a week ago on Sept 26, Rosmah was called in for a second round of questioning – this time on 1MDB – which lasted 13 hours, also at the MACC.
Credit: mazwin nik anis, joseph kaos jr, royce tan, vincent tan, and chu mei fong The Star
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Tun Razak was being charged under the Anti-Money Laundering,
Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act
(AMLATFPUAA) 2001 at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
PIC: AFIQ RAZALI / Malaysia Gazette / 4 OCTOBER 2018
By Mohd Zaini Samsu Hadi
KUALA LUMPUR – Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was slapped with 17 charges on
money-laundering involving a total of RM7 million.
Following are the list of charges on Rosmah:
Depositing RM200,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 4 December 2013
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 15 December 2013
Depositing RM200,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 23 December 2013
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 28 January 2014
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 29 January 2014
Depositing RM200,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 28 February 2014
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 14 March 2014
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 8 April 2014
Depositing RM1.6 million from illegal activities into personal
account through 8 transactions between 4 September 2014 and 22 December
2014
Depositing RM3.85 million from illegal activities into personal
account through 127 transactions between 21 January 2015 to 12 December
2015.
Depositing RM510,000 from illegal activities into personal account
through 87 transactions between 28 January 2016 and 7 November 2016
Depositing RM30,000 from illegal activities into personal account through 5 transactions between 28 March 2017 and 8 June 2017
Failure to declare RM500,000 deposited into her personal account
between 4 December 2013 and 23 December 2013 as required by the Income
Tax Act
Failure to declare RM2.2 million deposited into her personal account
between 28 January 2014 and 22 December 2014 as required by the Income
Tax Act
Failure to declare RM3.85 million deposited into her personal
account between 21 January 2015 and 12 December 2015 as required by the
Income Tax Act
Failure to declare RM510,000 deposited into her personal account
between 28 January 2016 and 7 November 2016 as required by the Income
Tax Act
Failure to declare RM30,000 deposited into her personal account
between 29 March 2017 and 8 June 2017 as required by the Income Tax Act
Rosmah was charged according to Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money
Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities
Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001,
She shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fifteen
years and shall also be liable to a fine of not less than five times the
sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity or
instrumentalities of an offence at the time the offence was committed or
five million ringgit, whichever is the higher upon conviction. –
MalaysiaGazette
PUTRAJAYA: In an unprecedented turn of events, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will both be in court today.
After spending a night in the MACC lockup, investigators are bringing Rosmah to the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to face a slew of money laundering charges while the case management for one of Najib’s cases will take place at the same time.
Najib is facing some 32 charges including criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering of funds linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd and its offshoot, SRC International Sdn Bhd.
So far, Najib has been brought to court three times to face charges since July 4.
As for Rosmah, today will be the first time she will be formally charged in relation to money laundering activities.
It is believed that Rosmah could be slapped with up to 20 charges.
Rosmah, 67, will go down in Malaysian history as the first wife of a prime minister to be indicted.
The arrest came after she was questioned for more than four hours yesterday morning at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here.
The Star, followed by other media, broke the news of her arrest after the lunch break yesterday.
At 3.20pm, MACC confirmed her arrest.
The MACC made the arrest after being given the go-ahead by the Attorney General’s Chambers.
The commission also said that Rosmah would be charged under Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
However, Rosmah’s lawyers said they were unaware of the charges that would be brought on their client.
“We were only informed by the MACC of her arrest and that she would be brought to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to be charged tomorrow.
“They did not tell us the nature of the charges,” said Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent.
The media who were stationed outside the MACC building from 9am waited for Rosmah who was called in for questioning for the third time since June 5.
The investigations are related to the trail of funds from 1MDB and SRC International.
She arrived at the MACC headquarters at 10.42am, dressed in a light green baju kurung and a matching selendang.
As she walked past the crowd of reporters, she appeared calm and even stopped to shake hands.
Sources said that Najib was informed of his wife’s arrest.
“He appeared calm,” said a source when asked on Najib’s reaction to the news of Rosmah’s arrest.
Asked about Rosmah’s condition, Geethan said: “She’s ok.”
Rosmah was first called to the MACC on June 5 to answer questions on SRC International Sdn Bhd.
On Sept 26 and yesterday, she was interrogated over the 1MDB scandal and money laundering.
The first inkling of Rosmah being charged was on Sept 24 after MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Shukri Abdull was quoted as saying that the investigations on her had been completed and the report had been submitted to the Attorney General.
He said then that it was up to the AG to prosecute Rosmah.
Yesterday, Najib was also detained for questioning on matters related to 1MDB but in another location and by a different law enforcement agency.
While Rosmah was in MACC, Najib was giving his statement at the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Prevention Unit (Amla) headquarters at Menara KPJ in Jalan Tun Razak.
Pemantau Malaysia Baru president Datuk Lokman Noor Adam, who is also an Umno supreme council member, announced the day before on Facebook that Najib would be called in by the police at 10am yesterday.
Najib was taken into the building through a side entrance after he arrived at Menara KPJ at about 11am, giving the media the slip.
He managed to evade the press when he left the building from the elevated car park at 1.05pm, nearly three hours after he came to the Amla headquarters.
Yesterday morning, a white luxury MPV was seen leaving the couple’s house in Jalan Langgak Duta earlier in the morning.
However, it was not known whether it was transporting the couple or either one of them.
Prior to his questioning at Menara KPJ yesterday, Najib, who is Pekan Member of Parliament, was called up on Aug 27 and 30 and then on Sept 30 to have his statement recorded on the case.
In both instances, it was with the MACC.
Exactly a week ago on Sept 26, Rosmah was called in for a second round of questioning – this time on 1MDB – which lasted 13 hours, also at the MACC.
Credit: mazwin nik anis, joseph kaos jr, royce tan, vincent tan, and chu mei fong The Star
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was being charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. PIC: AFIQ RAZALI / Malaysia Gazette / 4 OCTOBER 2018
By Mohd Zaini Samsu Hadi KUALA LUMPUR – Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was slapped with 17 charges on money-laundering involving a total of RM7 million.
Following are the list of charges on Rosmah:
Depositing RM200,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 4 December 2013
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 15 December 2013
Depositing RM200,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 23 December 2013
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 28 January 2014
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 29 January 2014
Depositing RM200,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 28 February 2014
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 14 March 2014
Depositing RM100,000 from illegal activities into personal account on 8 April 2014
Depositing RM1.6 million from illegal activities into personal account through 8 transactions between 4 September 2014 and 22 December 2014
Depositing RM3.85 million from illegal activities into personal account through 127 transactions between 21 January 2015 to 12 December 2015.
Depositing RM510,000 from illegal activities into personal account through 87 transactions between 28 January 2016 and 7 November 2016
Depositing RM30,000 from illegal activities into personal account through 5 transactions between 28 March 2017 and 8 June 2017
Failure to declare RM500,000 deposited into her personal account between 4 December 2013 and 23 December 2013 as required by the Income Tax Act
Failure to declare RM2.2 million deposited into her personal account between 28 January 2014 and 22 December 2014 as required by the Income Tax Act
Failure to declare RM3.85 million deposited into her personal account between 21 January 2015 and 12 December 2015 as required by the Income Tax Act
Failure to declare RM510,000 deposited into her personal account between 28 January 2016 and 7 November 2016 as required by the Income Tax Act
Failure to declare RM30,000 deposited into her personal account between 29 March 2017 and 8 June 2017 as required by the Income Tax Act
Rosmah was charged according to Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, She shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fifteen years and shall also be liable to a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity or instrumentalities of an offence at the time the offence was committed or five million ringgit, whichever is the higher upon conviction. – MalaysiaGazette
Having his say: A screengrap of www.jho-low.com website which contained the letter
Rogue businessman insists he is not guilty via letter on personal website
PETALING JAYA - Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho has proclaimed his innocence over allegations related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in a signed letter uploaded to his personal website.
Low, also known as Jho Low, admitted that in hindsight, he might have done things differently.
"But any mistakes I made do not amount to the sweepingly broad and destructive allegations being made against me.
"Let me be clear: I am innocent," Low wrote.
The website, www.jho-low.com, also contains legal documents related to the 1MDB case, news media articles on him and 1MDB as well as statements by Low’s lawyers.
A notice on the website said that jho-low.com was created on behalf of Low through his legal counsel to provide information to the public.
A search on the Internet archive shows that the website has been updated since 2015 but until recently only contained general information on Low.
According to the WHOIS database, jho-low.com was created on June 2, 2014.
Yesterday, the link to the website was shared extensively on social media, after the undated letter was posted.
“I only ask that everyone – courts, prosecutors, and the general public – keep an open mind until all of the evidence comes to light,” Low wrote in the letter.
The financier wrote that for the past several years, he had been subjected to a series of allegations around the globe in relation to the operations of 1MDB.
He said many of the allegations had originated from blog posts, “improper” leaks from governmental agencies around the world, or unproven allegations filed in court, where he had never been afforded an opportunity to set the record straight.
“I have been paraded in effigy through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, and photographs from my younger days plastered in tabloids across the globe.
“It has become clear that there is no platform where objective information can be presented regarding this issue – and no jurisdiction that hasn’t been poisoned by gossip, innuendo, and unproven allegations.
“This website is an effort to change that,” Low wrote.
The 36-year-old Penangite is described as a “global philanthropist, investor and entrepreneur” on the website.
A check with an official from a public affairs firm representing Low confirmed the veracity of the website.
Meanwhile, Swiss whistleblower Xavier Justo, in an immediate response, said: “The Jho Low website does not show any proof of his innocence.
“It is just a bunch of legal documents showing that he wants a few cases to be dismissed.
“It’s the way the justice system works, you can be as guilty as guilty is and ask for a case to be dismissed. It’s not proof of innocence,” he told The Star.
The former PetroSaudi International executive said he was appalled at Low’s attempts to defend himself through the website.
“Any decent person will face justice (in court) if he can prove that he is innocent,” he said.
He added that he was amazed at Low’s attempts to try to “stop the distribution of books, abuse the justice system and hire public relations officers to defend his reputation while also creating a website to tell fairy tales”.
Low’s current whereabouts are unknown; he has been speculated to be hiding in China or the Caribbean.
He and his father, Tan Sri Low Hock Peng, were charged in absentia in Malaysia last month over money allegedly stolen from 1MDB.
Last week, Low, through the London-based law firm Schillings, sought to ban the books, The Sarawak Report by Clare Rewcastle Brown and Billion Dollar Whale by The Wall Street Journal’s Tom Wright and Bradley Hope, from going on sale.
Having his say: A screengrap of www.jho-low.com website which contained the letter
Rogue businessman insists he is not guilty via letter on personal website
PETALING JAYA - Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho has proclaimed his innocence over allegations related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in a signed letter uploaded to his personal website.
Low, also known as Jho Low, admitted that in hindsight, he might have done things differently.
"But any mistakes I made do not amount to the sweepingly broad and destructive allegations being made against me.
"Let me be clear: I am innocent," Low wrote.
The website, www.jho-low.com, also contains legal documents related to the 1MDB case, news media articles on him and 1MDB as well as statements by Low’s lawyers.
A notice on the website said that jho-low.com was created on behalf of Low through his legal counsel to provide information to the public.
A search on the Internet archive shows that the website has been updated since 2015 but until recently only contained general information on Low.
According to the WHOIS database, jho-low.com was created on June 2, 2014.
Yesterday, the link to the website was shared extensively on social media, after the undated letter was posted.
“I only ask that everyone – courts, prosecutors, and the general public – keep an open mind until all of the evidence comes to light,” Low wrote in the letter.
The financier wrote that for the past several years, he had been subjected to a series of allegations around the globe in relation to the operations of 1MDB.
He said many of the allegations had originated from blog posts, “improper” leaks from governmental agencies around the world, or unproven allegations filed in court, where he had never been afforded an opportunity to set the record straight.
“I have been paraded in effigy through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, and photographs from my younger days plastered in tabloids across the globe.
“It has become clear that there is no platform where objective information can be presented regarding this issue – and no jurisdiction that hasn’t been poisoned by gossip, innuendo, and unproven allegations.
“This website is an effort to change that,” Low wrote.
The 36-year-old Penangite is described as a “global philanthropist, investor and entrepreneur” on the website.
A check with an official from a public affairs firm representing Low confirmed the veracity of the website.
Meanwhile, Swiss whistleblower Xavier Justo, in an immediate response, said: “The Jho Low website does not show any proof of his innocence.
“It is just a bunch of legal documents showing that he wants a few cases to be dismissed.
“It’s the way the justice system works, you can be as guilty as guilty is and ask for a case to be dismissed. It’s not proof of innocence,” he told The Star.
The former PetroSaudi International executive said he was appalled at Low’s attempts to defend himself through the website.
“Any decent person will face justice (in court) if he can prove that he is innocent,” he said.
He added that he was amazed at Low’s attempts to try to “stop the distribution of books, abuse the justice system and hire public relations officers to defend his reputation while also creating a website to tell fairy tales”.
Low’s current whereabouts are unknown; he has been speculated to be hiding in China or the Caribbean.
He and his father, Tan Sri Low Hock Peng, were charged in absentia in Malaysia last month over money allegedly stolen from 1MDB.
Last week, Low, through the London-based law firm Schillings, sought to ban the books, The Sarawak Report by Clare Rewcastle Brown and Billion Dollar Whale by The Wall Street Journal’s Tom Wright and Bradley Hope, from going on sale.
Rightways - Sowing the seeds of Success:
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Richard Tan
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