US court orders Jho Low to forfeit 'flawless' diamonds bought for mum

Fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) has been ordered to forfeit a trio of “flawless” diamonds he bought for his mother Evelyn, using money allegedly looted from 1MDB.

According to Bloomberg, US district judge Dale Fischer made the ruling in Los Angeles on Monday.

The report said that the jewellery comprised a 7.35-carat diamond ring, estimated to be worth about US$1.17 million (RM5.5 million) and a pair of matching diamond earrings worth about US$628,000 (RM2.9 million) designed by New York-based designer Lorraine Schwartz, who has designed for celebrities like Beyonce and Adele.

US prosecutors said Schwartz also made the US$23 million (RM107.7 million) pink diamond necklace for Rosmah Mansor, the wife of incarcerated former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In June, the US Justice Department (DOJ) reached an agreement with Low to forfeit more than US$100 million (RM468 million) in the alleged embezzlement of US$4.5 billion from 1MDB.

Bloomberg reported that Fischer also ordered former 1MDB lawyer Jasmine Loo to forfeit a Pablo Picasso pencil sketch drawing titled “Trois Femmes Nues et Buste d’Homme”, which she purchased for about US$1.4 million (RM6.5 million).

In the order, Loo, who has been charged in Malaysia and testified against Najib, also agreed to surrender US$25,000 (RM117,000) held in a Swiss bank account, said the report.

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