Probe connection between Apandi, Jho Low – Dr M

SHAH ALAM – Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stresses that it is essential to probe the connection between former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

In a Facebook post, Dr Mahathir demanded that Apandi responded to his questions after it came to light that the former attorney general had represented Jho Low in his recent attempt to reach a settlement with the Malaysian government.

The former premier had terminated Apandi’s employment as the government’s top attorney shortly after the 2018 general election.

“I have explained this many times. What needs to be explained is how Apandi proposes to settle the Jho Low case with Jho Low’s offer to pay the Malaysian Government one billion five hundred million Ringgit.

“Apandi had previously claimed that there was no wrongdoing by Datuk Seri Najib in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case. This means that Jho Low is also innocent,” he said in a statement.

He also questioned why had Jho Low planned to pay one and a half billion Ringgit to the Malaysian government if he was not guilty.

He believed that the innocent person’s way was to return to Malaysia and be willing to be tried in court.

“After all, when he was tried, Najib was found guilty of all charges in court. At the same time, Apandi’s decision that Najib did nothing wrong was rejected by the court when Najib was tried.

“This means that Apandi was negligent in carrying out the trust as AG,” he said.

When Apandi concluded that Najib did nothing wrong, Dr Mahathir was curious about their relationship as he believed that if there was a relationship, a “conflict of interest” arises and that Apandi’s ruling shielded Jho Low and prevented the court from hearing Najib’s case.

“It is important to investigate Apandi’s relationship with Jho Low,” he said.

It was reported that Jho Low, who had been accused of masterminded the heist of billions of dollars from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), had offered RM1.5 billion to the Malaysian government to settle the charges against him.

The Malaysian government had reportedly rejected the proposal.

Jho Low, accused of siphoning money from 1MDB, is facing a US$3.78 billion (about RM15.85 billion) suit filed by 1MDB and its four subsidiaries.

It was also reported that Jho Low had Apandi represented him in negotiations with the Malaysian government but the latter claimed that he had not represented Jho Low but he was contacted by international law firm Kobre & Kim who sought help to arrange for a meeting with the Attorney-General’s Chamber in May.

During his tenure as AG under former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s administration, Apandi had cleared Najib of any wrongdoing in 1MDB in 2016.

Following a change in government in 2018, Najib was charged with abusing his position as then PM and Finance Minister as well as chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers, to receive gratification.

He is also facing money laundering charges involving RM4.3 billion of 1MDB monies.

While the trial for these charges was still ongoing, Najib was found guilty by the High Court on July 28, 2020 of abusing his power in relation to the approval of RM4 billion worth of loans from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

He was also convicted of three counts each of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million of SRC funds that went into his personal bank accounts between Dec 26, 2014 and Feb 10, 2015.