No Evidence To Back Claims On Jho Low’s Whereabouts – Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry, through the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), continues to work closely with international authorities and enforcement agencies to track down fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, whose whereabouts remain unknown despite recent claims.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said checks and information received to date have found no credible evidence regarding Jho Low’s current whereabouts or his use of any passport.

“With regard to certain reports linking this individual to specific locations and passport use, I stress that these claims remain unverified and unsupported by any solid evidence to date. So they remain allegations,” he said at a press conference after visiting the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) here today.

Recently, claims surfaced suggesting that Jho Low, who is implicated in the 1MDB scandal, is now residing in an upscale area in Shanghai, using a fake Australian passport.

On NSRC, Saifuddin said the current operations centre will be relocated to its own premises in Cyberjaya this September.

The new site will be equipped with updated facilities, a larger space and a complaints counter to make it easier for the public to lodge reports in person.

“This decision (to relocate the operations centre) will be accompanied by the creation of 139 new posts and the addition of more agencies. For now, I’ve mentioned four, but in principle, we have also agreed to include two more agencies — the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Securities Commission.

“This move is aimed at further strengthening NSRC, and with the inclusion of these two new agencies alongside the existing four, the centre will be better positioned to fulfil its functions,” he said.

Currently, NSRC comprises four agencies: PDRM, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre.

-- BERNAMA