Fund case accused ‘will get a fair trial’

LEADING MALAYSIAN politician Anwar Ibrahim has said a fugitive tycoon accused of ransacking a state investment fund will be given a fair trial, while hinting that more former officials could be tried on corruption charges.

Last week, US prosecutors charged Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, for his alleged role in a widespread money-laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions of dollars from the indebted 1MDB fund.

Attending an economic forum in Singapore, Mr Anwar said he was “quite pleased” with the developments in the case so far and that investigations in the US, Malaysia, Singapore and other places were “progressing very well”.

The Malaysian government has brought multiple corruption cases against former PM Najib Razak and his officials.

Because the new government has committed itself to an independent judiciary, “anyone, whether Najib or Jho Low, will have to ... be assured a guarantee of a fair trial”, Mr Anwar said.

Najib stifled investigations into 1MDB while in office, but the scandal led to the ruling coalition’s shocking election defeat in May.

Mr Anwar and his former political nemesis, Mahathir Mohamad, put aside their enmity to form the four-party alliance which won the elections. Mr Mahathir has said he will serve for two years as prime minister and has designated Mr Anwar as his successor.

Najib and his supporters have called the criminal charges against them political vengeance, and a statement on Jho Low’s website from when he was charged with money laundering said he maintained his innocence.