KEE Kok Thiam, an associate of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, who returned to Malaysia three weeks ago, died suddenly after suffering a stroke, his family lawyers said.

Kee died on May 29 in hospital and will be cremated this morning, just two days after his death.

“We urge all parties not to entertain any speculation on this unfortunate event and allow the family the space to grieve on his passing, ” the lawyers said in a statement this morning.

Kee was nabbed in the early hours of May 3 by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers when the 56-year-old arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Earlier reports stated he was deported from Macau for overstaying his visa.

The deportation of Kee came on the back of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s first official trip to China in late March and recent statements that his government was actively seeking the repatriation of 1MDB fugitives.

MACC sources had said that Kee was allegedly Taek Jho’s right-hand man and had been on the run since 2018.

The anti-graft agency recorded his statement and raided his house.

The agency’s investigation revealed that the suspect was believed to have received money from 1MDB and SRC through the account of a company called Wright Shaw Limited.

The MACC in collaboration with the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of Singapore was previously reported to have seized the account of Wright Shaw Limited involving funds totalling US$5.2 million (RM24 million).

The investigation also proved that the suspect received money from 1MDB through Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M).

Kee was released after his interview with MACC officers and the anti-corruption body said no charges had been laid against him “at this time”.

MACC sources said it had been gathering intelligence since the government issued a travel ban against 1MDB suspects, including Kee, soon after the 2018 election.  – May 31 2023.