(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian police said they've met Chinese authorities to boost efforts in the hunt for fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, according to Bernama news agency.
Low hasn't been found and attempts to locate him are underway, the report said, citing Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun. Malaysia has sought Interpol's help to locate and arrest him, and there is no change in status at that level, Fuzi was quoted as saying.
Low, better known as Jho Low, has been painted by U.S. prosecutors as a central figure in Malaysia's 1MDB scandal, where billions of dollars were allegedly embezzled from the state investment company. He has repeatedly maintained his innocence and faces charges including money laundering in Malaysia. He had been charged in absentia as his whereabouts are not known.
Fuzi could not immediately be reached for comment via phone or text message.
How Malaysia's 1MDB Scandal Shook the Financial World: QuickTake
1Malaysia Development Bhd., better known as 1MDB, is at the heart of a scandal which allegedly saw $4.5 billion misappropriated from the fund. Low, who previously said he did consulting work for 1MDB, is portrayed by some global investigators as the mastermind behind some of the schemes involving missing funds. He has been described as the “best witness” to provide information on alleged crimes at 1MDB.
Singapore, whose financial system and banks were used as conduits for some of the illicit funds, filed charges against Low in 2016 when it issued a warrant of arrest. The city-state had also requested that Interpol publish a red notice for Low in 2016.
--With assistance from Liau Y-Sing.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shamim Adam in Singapore at sadam2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Shamim Adam at sadam2@bloomberg.net, Jake Lloyd-Smith
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