Fugitive businessman Jho Low hiding in Myanmar, protected by junta: Najib’s lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR – Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, may be hiding in Myanmar under the protection of its military generals, said lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

According to Sinar Daily, the defence attorney of former prime minister Najib Razak said rumours of Jho Low’s whereabouts initially pointed to Dubai, China or Macau.

However, during Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial, Tan Sri Shafee said the testimony of a key prosecution witness, former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo, pointed to Myanmar.

“From the testimony... from Loo, I think he is in Myanmar, protected by the generals,” he said during a media town hall in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 19.

Mr Shafee said that according to Ms Loo’s testimony, Low had arranged for a fake Myanmar passport to help her enter the country.

The lawyer was speaking to the public after being asked about Jho Low’s whereabouts and why it was difficult to locate him.

The other panellists at the public forum, moderated by Mr Kamarudin Ahmad, were former Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and lawyer Adzly Abdul Manas.

Najib is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain RM2.3 billion (S$690 million) from state-owned fund 1MDB, and another 21 money laundering charges involving the same amount. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK