THE Kuala Lumpur magistrates’ court has issued warrants of arrest for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho and four others for criminal charges in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Charges against the five – Low, Tang Keng Chee, Loo Ai Swan, Geh Choh Heng and Tan Kim Loong – were filed in absentia at the Sessions Court today but were not read in open court.

In June, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) released the photographs of Tang, Loo, Geh and Tan to facilitate its 1MDB investigations.

All four have been on the MACC’s wanted list for some time.

It was initially believed that Tan was a name used by Low for his business deals in Singapore.

His identity had always been a subject of speculation because banks across the Causeway had never seen him although they had communicated with him via emails and other means.

Also going by the name of Eric Tan, he is believed to be a key figure in the 1MDB scandal as he was identified as a signatory for numerous bank accounts in RBS Coutts and Falcon Bank in Singapore where funds from 1MDB accounts were laundered.

According to reports, Tan, who was the front for Low in all his banking transactions involving billions of ringgit from 1MDB, is a family friend and business partner to the latter’s siblings.

He was a shareholder in several companies in Malaysia and Singapore doing business with Low’s relatives before he became the Penang-born billionaire’s point person and most trusted aide.

Tan’s identity only emerged in public during the trial of a former BSI Bank of Singapore banker, Yeo Jia Wei, who was sentenced to 54 months’ jail for his role in the 1MDB scandal.

Meanwhile, Tang was said to be an investment executive and pioneer in 1MDB while Geh was an executive director of finance. Loo was a general counsel and 1MDB’s executive director of group strategy.

Low, who is better known as Jho Low, is wanted for various other offences linked to the 1MDB scandal.

Low has maintained his innocence through statements issued by his lawyers, or public relations firm. – December 4, 2018.