Police go to Tanjung Bungah Park to seize fugitive Jho Low’s family house. No one was home.
Police issue notice for RM25mil house amid little activity inside
GEORGE TOWN: Although Low Taek Jho’s family has not been seen at their three-storey bungalow in Tanjung Bungah Park, neighbours say the house and cars parked there are cleaned regularly.
“I’ve seen the driver washing the cars besides going in and out of the house quite often. There are also two to three maids doing the daily chores in the house.
“However, I did not see any family members around,” said a neighbour who declined to be named.
Gates to the bungalow remained closed when reporters from The Star visited and rang the door bell.
There were uncollected letters in the mailbox.
The bungalow is believed to be owned officially by Low’s mother, Goh Gaik Ewe, 66,
Goh was recently included among those sought by police as authorities widen their dragnet in the high-profile investigation into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Last Thursday, officers from the Bukit Aman’s Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Prevention division enforced a notice of seizure for the RM25mil property.
The notice, under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, was issued by the Attorney General’s Chambers.
A copy of the notice of seizure, dated Jan 17, 2019, was found pasted outside the bungalow.
The notice states: “Now pursuant to subsection 51 (1A) of the Act, it’s hereby ordered that such immovable property be seized by the investigating officer and all dealings in respect of such immovable property are prohibited.
“Take notice that failure to comply with this notice is an offence under the Act.”
The notice was signed by deputy public prosecutor Syafinas Shabudin.
The bungalow has a built-up area of around 30,000sq ft and a land area of about 20,000sq ft.
According to a real estate agent, houses in the posh area are valued at between RM800 and RM1,000 per square feet.
Facilities at the bungalow include a swimming pool, a wine cellar and a lift.
Police investigations previously focused on Low, better known as Jho Low, and his father Tan Sri Larry Low Hock Peng.
In the latest development, Goh was implicated along with her husband and two others – Singaporean Shabnam Naraindas Daswani@ Natasha Mirpuri, 54, and Tan Kim Loong, 40.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the four persons of interest were wanted to assist in ongoing investigations.
In a statement released through Jho Low’s website, it said the Low family property was built and completed around twenty years ago during the previous administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“This was over a decade before 1MDB ever existed and at that time Mr Low was still a teenager.
“The property has never been of interest to any Malaysian government in the previous two decades,” it added.
The statement said the purported seizure of a property unconnected to any of the allegations demonstrated that Low would not be able to get a fair trial.
In 2018, Jho Low’s super yacht Equanimity, which was reportedly worth US$250mil, was also seized in relation to the 1MDB case.
Those with information can contact Supt Foo Wei Min at 03-2610 1402 or Deputy Supt Albany Hamzah at 019-241 2826 from the Bukit Aman’s Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Prevention division or the nearest police station.