Jho Low to be charged in absentia again

PETALING JAYA: Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho – better known as Jho Low – is expected to be charged in absentia again today.

Jho Low, who is believed to be hiding in China, is expected to face charges along with four others at the Jalan Duta Sessions Court.

It is not known what charges Low, who was first charged in absentia at the Putrajaya Sessions Court in August, will face this time but it is likely to be linked with funds related to the 1MDB scandal.

In August, police filed criminal charges against him and his father for offences under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 over money allegedly stolen from 1MDB.

In that case, Low was slapped with eight counts of money laundering.

In the first, second and third charges, the 37-year-old allegedly received US$261,449,960 from unlawful activities into his BSI Bank Limited account.

In the fourth to eighth charges, he allegedly transferred ¤41,100,073.22 and US$140,636,225.10 into the account of World View Limited, Caymans Island, in Caledonian Bank Limited, Caymans Island.

The offences were allegedly committed at BSI Bank Limited, No. 7, Temasek Boulevard, #32-01 Suntec Tower One, Singapore, between Dec 26, 2013, and June 3, 2014.

Low is also facing charges brought by the US Department of Justice over funds misappropriated from 1MDB and paying bribes to various Malaysian and Abu Dhabi officials.