AS details of Low Taek Jho’s global settlement with the US Department of Justice (DoJ) emerge, legal sources said the key figure in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal is currently in the United Arab Emirates and seeking asylum elsewhere.

The Singapore Straits Times and other sources confirm the businessman better known as Jho Low was offered asylum last August under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European Convention on Human Rights.

“He was offered the asylum as a result of Malaysia’s purported political actions and human rights violations against him,” one legal source said. 

Low’s lawyers confirmed the asylum but did not give further details about it.

His spokesman said Low was in the UAE and travelling between Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East where “he holds close relations with members of the royal families” and Europe since last June.

“He’s protected under international law now, similar to Malaysia’s argument that Zakir Naik will not be deported to India as he won’t get a fair trial there,” another legal source added.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said last month Malaysia knew where Low was and is working on extraditing him by year-end to assist in their investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

Police have yet to respond to the overnight news of Low’s settlement with the DoJ, whose forfeiture suits have been a basis for action against the Penang-born businessman, including the seizure of his yacht, Equanimity.

The settlement in the California courts meant that Low and his family have given up some US$1 billion in assets without any admission of wrongdoing.

“I am very pleased to confirm that a landmark comprehensive, global settlement has been reached with the United States government, which fully and forever resolves in their entirety each of the US government’s civil, criminal, and administrative actions or proceedings relating to the defendant assets at issue in the Central District of California,” Low said in a statement released this morning.

“The historic agreement builds on a series of successful prior agreements negotiated with the US Department of Justice and is the result of good faith discussions between the parties.

“Importantly, the agreement does not constitute an admission of guilt, liability or any form of wrongdoing by me or the asset owners. We believe all parties consider this resolution, which is subject to final court approval, to be a successful and satisfactory result,” he said. – October 31, 2019.