Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, who is more popularly called Jho Low, has finally broken his silence amid increasing scrutiny for his supposed role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) money-laundering scandal.
In an interview with the Straits Times, Low insisted that he was innocent and was used as a "scapegoat" by those who organized and facilitated questionable fundraising events for the Malaysian fund.
The Malaysian financier went on to explain that "people and companies act as introducers or intermediaries all the time" when it comes to such matters. Low said his situation was not "unique" to those who have become intermediaries for banks and financial institutions.
Low added that he was "requested" to take part in the fundraising for 1MDB due to his "good relationships with influential foreign businessmen and decision makers." He went on to accuse the Malaysian government of victimizing him amid the scandal.
For Low, his human rights were violated and he wasn't allowed to undergo proper judicial processes. He said he wasn't the mastermind of laundering the Malaysian fund, and that he helped his country establish "professional connections."
It is unclear where Low is at this time but he confirmed that a country offered him asylum in August last year. He also did not provide further details about his whereabouts, raising concerns about how the 1MDB scandal will be resolved without him facing up to charges both in Malaysia and the United States.
It is worth noting that the interview with the Singaporean news outlet is Low's first in four years. Another person in the center of the 1MDB scandal, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, previously insisted that he was unaware of the questionable activities going on with the fund.
Also on Monday, Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali of the High Court dismissed the prosecution's appeal to impeach Najib as a witness in the 1MDB scandal due to alleged discrepancies in his court statements.
According to The Star, the High Court said the prosecution side should not pursue requests to impeach Najib, but some experts believe there were still be talks about potentially ousting the former Malaysian leader to stand as a witness as investigations on the case drag on.
Nazlan said that the discrepancies pointed out by the prosecution were "minor" and that cross-examination on Najib should continue, especially as the Malaysian government is looking to settle with involved U.S. bank Goldman Sachs.
Of the settlement, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad previously said Goldman Sachs' offer was too small for the government to approve of. He did state that he is looking forward to reaching an amicable settlement as soon as possible.
