IGP 'invites' Jho Low home to 'defend himself'

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 18): Low Taek Jho aka Jho Low should not have any fears about returning home to Malaysia if he thinks he is innocent over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) mega scandal, The Star reported Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador (pictured) saying.

“I am inviting him back so that he can defend himself,” said Abdul Hamid.

“I can even arrange for his (Low) meeting with the Attorney General (AG). I can assure him safe passage,” said the IGP.

“He has to discuss with the AG if he really feels that he is innocent.

“Low is not only wanted by authorities in Malaysia but by authorities in the United States and Singapore as well,” he added.

Jho Low hit the limelight again when details about him trying to talk with the previous Pakatan Harapan government to avoid charges linked to the 1MDB affair were revealed by the Al Jazeera broadcaster.

Al Jazeera claimed Jho Low insisted on his innocence in a series of telephone conversations he had with the previous Malaysian government led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“I don’t believe there’s any wrongdoing,” said Jho Low in those conversations.

Al Jazeera reported Jho Low suggesting that he merely borrowed the billions of ringgit from 1MDB to buy himself, among other things, luxury real estate around the world, art masterpieces, a private jet and a mega-yacht, not to mention millions of dollars worth of Cristal champagne.

“All these ultimately were loans, directly or indirectly, but ultimately, I think the time has come — we want to assist in repatriating these assets back in return for cooperating and moving on with life without, you know, being prosecuted,”  Jho Low was quoted as saying.

"In them (the conversations), the fugitive (Jho Low) betrays fellow conspirators, offering others, also on the run, as potential witnesses in 1MDB-related cases, and complains about the mounting cost of legal representation. His sense of entitlement and lack of remorse are on full display,” the Al Jazeera report claimed.

It was reported that Jho Low put the blame for the 1MDB scandal firmly on ex-PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

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