FUGITIVE businessman Low Taek Jho’s legal team is engaged in a “constructive and open dialogue” with the Department Justice (DoJ) on a pending case in the United States linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Low, better known as Jho Low, is facing charges in the eastern district of New York for conspiring to launder billions of dollars embezzled from 1MDB and for conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

US government officials told Singapore’s Straits Times that talks for a settlement with the New York courts are under way and are likely to be resolved in the coming weeks.

This comes after Low and the DoJ entered into a wide-ranging settlement last October where he agreed to surrender claims over US$1 billion (RM4.18 billion) in assets that were allegedly purchased with funds siphoned from 1MDB.

“I can’t comment on pending legal matters (on the US proceedings), but what I can say is that my team continues to engage in a constructive and open dialogue with the Department of Justice, where the rule of law is respected and where people are considered innocent until proven guilty,” Low said in an email interview.

In ongoing 1MDB-linked trials of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, the prosecution is arguing that Low colluded with Najib in misappropriating money from the state fund.

Najib’s defence has been built around a narrative that he had been duped and manipulated by various parties, including Low.

Low had repeatedly claimed that the attacks against him are politically motivated and ignored basic human rights and fair judicial processes.

“The Malaysian government’s actual actions contradict their statements, such as telling the media that they will ‘guarantee’ my safety and that I will have a fair trial,” he said, in reference to statements by Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.

Hamid had said Malaysia would bring back Low by the end of last year to face trial here.

But in recent reports, Hamid lamented that Low was being protected by a country that did not acknowledge that the fugitive is seeking refuge there.

Malaysia has limited extradition treaties. According to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Malaysia has treaties on mutual assistance in criminal matters with 13 countries.

Low told the paper he was offered asylum by a country last August “on the basis of the political persecution to which I have been subjected and the continuing violation of my human rights”.

Although he would not disclose the country, Straits Times understands it to be a country in Europe.

His current whereabouts are unknown but widely believed to be in the United Arab Emirates.

He said he had “serious personal safety concerns” and did not want to disclose where he is. – January 6, 2020.