Report claims M’sia hammering out deal for Jho Low’s repatriation

Malaysian government officials are working on a deal with China that would see the fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho repatriated to Malaysia, according to the former Wall Street Journal reporter Bradley Hope.

He claimed that multiple sources have said the arrangement is being “hotly debated” in the Malaysian government following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to China last month.

“Such a deal would involve wiping the slate clean over China's involvement with deals structured by Jho Low (above) to cover up the 1MDB fraud, China's attempts to bolster Najib (Abdul) Razak's political career (including in cash support), recalibrating Belt and Road Initiative projects in Malaysia to be economically feasible and beneficial to Malaysian infrastructure needs and handing over Jho Low himself (and all his plundered loot).

“This would be huge, fascinating and mark the end of the main storyline of the 1MDB scandal – from its founding in 2009 to collapse amid scandal in 2015 and all the insane partying and spending along the way until 2023.

“It could also mean a big cash recovery for Malaysia, too, because (Low) – by our estimates and sources who have followed the case closely – still controls a multi-billion dollar cash hoard,” he wrote.

The claim is published in today’s edition of the newsletter Whale Hunting, which he runs with fellow journalist Tom Wright. The duo are co-authors of the book “Billion Dollar Whale” about Low’s role in the 1MDB scandal.

China had previously denied on multiple occasions that it was harbouring Low, but reports that he was laying low in the country persisted.

To complicate matters, Malaysia does not have an extradition treaty with China.

‘Delicate and challenging’

Hope explained that the deal will be a “delicate and challenging” one for both countries to work out.

“I'm just speculating, but I imagine both sides will want to make this a positive announcement.

“China does not want to have any coverage of how its cherished Belt and Road programme was riven with corruption and attempts to manipulate or coerce a sovereign government. They don't want anyone discussing Low as a multi-year Chinese intelligence agent.

“Malaysia will want to repair its relations with China, but also trumpet the return of Low and strike more economically reasonable terms with China on the Belt-and-Road projects.

“In a sense, both sides don't want Low to talk. How can they prevent that from happening?” he said.

The reference to Low as a Chinese intelligence agent is in relation to Hope’s allegation that Low had knowledge about Najib and his family that could be used as blackmail material.

He claimed China leveraged this to extend its influence and profitability in Malaysia by having Low lobby for infrastructure projects, but Low quickly turned from being an asset to a liability to China after Najib fell out of power following the 2018 general election.

Low had claimed he is innocent in the 1MDB scandal.

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