SINGAPORE, June 10– Singapore authorities have reaffirmed that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, remains a wanted individual, with arrest warrants and international notices against him still active despite his reported attempt to secure clemency in the United States.
In a statement issued in response to media enquiries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed that warrants of arrest and Interpol Red Notices remain in force for both Low and his close associate, Tan Kim Loong, who is also linked to investigations surrounding the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal.
Low, widely regarded by investigators in both Malaysia and the United States as a central figure in the alleged misappropriation of billions of dollars from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), has remained a fugitive since 2015. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The latest confirmation from Singapore comes as reports emerged that Low had submitted an application for presidential clemency to the US Department of Justice, seeking relief from criminal proceedings initiated against him by American authorities.
Malaysia, however, has shown little inclination to soften its position. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently indicated that Putrajaya would not entertain any request for a pardon involving Low, while legal proceedings against him continue. Low was formally charged in absentia in Malaysia in 2018.
Singapore authorities also disclosed that significant assets connected to the 1MDB investigations remain under restraint within the city-state. As of July 2024, approximately S$164 million (US$127.4 million) worth of assets had either been seized or made subject to disposal restrictions. Of that amount, around S$101 million was linked directly to Low and members of his family.
The 1MDB affair remains one of the world’s largest financial scandals, with investigators alleging that funds from the Malaysian sovereign investment vehicle were channelled through a complex network of offshore entities and shell companies before being used to acquire luxury properties, artworks, yachts and other high-value assets across several jurisdictions.
According to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Malaysia has successfully recovered RM29.75 billion in assets associated with the scandal, representing roughly 70% of the RM42 billion allegedly misappropriated from the state fund.
While international enforcement agencies continue to pursue outstanding investigations and asset recovery efforts, Low has managed to evade capture for nearly a decade, with his whereabouts remaining unknown.
