FORMER attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali said he was approached by representatives of fugitive Low Taek Jho to set up meetings on their behalf with the Malaysian attorney-general.

He said he was approached at the end of May, after which he had arranged a series of meetings to discuss the repatriation of monies allegedly siphoned by Low – or better known as Jho Low - from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

However, he said the meetings were then called off by the AG’s Chambers (AGC).

“I was approached by Kobre & Kim from Washington DC, seeking my assistance to arrange for a meeting with the attorney-general of Malaysia, at the end of May 2022.

“I arranged a series of meetings, whereby representatives from Kobre & Kim came to Malaysia.

“At the meetings, which took place at the AGC, the government of Malaysia was represented by the attorney-general and his officer, and a senior officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

“The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the repatriation of monies allegedly siphoned by Jho Low from 1MDB.

“After those meetings, which at the time seemed positive, negotiations were suddenly called off by the AGC, for reasons best known to them,” he said in a statement today.

Earlier today, it was reported that Jho Low, who is accused of siphoning billions of ringgit from 1MDB, had offered RM1.5 billion to Putrajaya to settle charges against him.

The Edge financial daily, quoting unnamed sources, reported that the government had rejected the offer.

It claimed that Low was represented by former attorney-general Apandi in the negotiations.

Jho Low is said to be the brains behind the 1MDB scandal and has been charged in absentia in US and Malaysian courts.

Former inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador had previously said that the Penang-born fugitive was being protected by “a country” and efforts to bring him home had been futile.

Jho Low is facing five money laundering charges involving US$1.03 billion in Malaysia while the US Department of Justice has charged him with conspiracy to launder billions of dollars from 1MDB and conspiracy to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Jho Low himself has on a number of occasions denied his involvement in the scandal, claiming to be an “intermediary” for former prime minister Najib Razak, who is currently standing trial over the matter. – July 16, 2022.