PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Controversial businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, reached out to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after he was sworn in as Prime Minister to offer his assistance on matters related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), reported Malaysiakini.
"Soon after Tun (Mahathir) became PM, Low sent out feelers that he was willing to cooperate in the 1MDB case.
"The feelers were sent to people close to Mahathir. I think this led to Low being formally summoned by the authorities," a government source was quoted as telling the news portal.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has issued an arrest warrant for Low and SRC International Berhad director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.
The duo are suspects in an investigation into SRC, the former 1MDB subsidiary that had allegedly transferred RM42 million into the personal account of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Dr Mahathir has confirmed that authorities are seeking to bring Low back to Malaysia over the businessman's alleged involvement in the 1MDB scandal.
"We are trying to arrest Jho Low, but he is not in the country.
"And we do not have extradition rights in the country where he is hiding," Dr Mahathir told a press conference after chairing the first meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption here on Friday (June 8).
On Thursday (June 7), Low said he had instructed his lawyers to respond to the MACC, adding that he would cooperate with the Commission.
It is not known if the lawyers have done so.
The MACC has so far questioned Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor over the case.
