PUTRAJAYA — Malaysian authorities conducting a probe into troubled state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) have issued an arrest warrant for financier Low Taek Jho and are preparing warrants for two others, including a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has also issued an arrest warrant for Mr Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, a former official at a 1MDB unit, according to one of the people. The agency is preparing arrest warrants for the fund’s ex-chief, Shahrol Halmi, and Mr Roger Ng, a former Goldman Sachs banker focused on Malaysia who left the firm in 2014, the people said.

The four individuals have not been charged with any wrongdoing, and it is not clear what suspicions underpin the arrest warrants. Their representatives declined to comment on this latest development, or were not immediately reachable. A representative for the MACC declined to comment.

Investigators’ recent actions underscore the determination of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who returned to power in a shock election win in May, to get to the bottom of an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud at the fund. 1MDB, set up in 2009 by former premier Najib Razak -- who lost to mentor-turned-foe Mahathir in the election -- is also at the centre of globe-spanning probes.

Earlier on Thursday, the MACC said it summoned Mr Low, who United States prosecutors have portrayed as a central figure in the plot to embezzle money from 1MDB, and Mr Nik Faisal. Mr Low has instructed his lawyers to make contact with the MACC and will help with the investigation, his representative said in an emailed statement.

The MACC has the power to issue arrest warrants and seize property, though any charges must be brought by a public prosecutor.

Malaysian investigators said last month they have met with their counterparts from the U.S. and Singapore to discuss working together. Authorities have enough evidence on Mr Low’s crimes, Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a speech to employees at the ministry on Thursday (June 7).

“He is the first main criminal behind this huge 1MDB corruption,” Mr Muhyiddin said.

He acknowledged the exasperation felt by many Malaysians who perceive that the government is not moving fast enough on the case.

“People ask us, why are we not taking action,” he said.

“I said wait, let us gather all the information but some don't want to wait, they are hoping for stern action to be taken, not today but yesterday. That’s how angry the people are,” he added.

The MACC has reopened the probe into SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary which has been linked to transfers of RM42 million (S$14 million) into the personal account of former prime minister Najib Razak.

The money involved in the SRC probe is just a fraction of billions of dollars allegedly siphoned from 1MDB, a scandal that dogged the last three years of Mr Najib's near-decade-long rule and one of the reasons why voters rejected him in a May election.

Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal and said on Thursday that the ongoing corruption investigation over his brainchild 1MDB was "political revenge" by his opponents.

“I will continue to give my cooperation to the authorities in their investigations on me, which are actually political revenge. To date, I have given my testimony twice to the MACC,” the former prime minister wrote in his latest Facebook entry.

He did not elaborate further on his allegations.

Mr Najib was called to the headquarters of the MACC in Putrajaya twice last month for his statement to be recorded as part of investigations into questionable past transactions in SRC, which is now parked directly under the Finance Ministry.

Mr Low, 37, has been named along with Mr Najib's stepson Riza Aziz in civil lawsuits filed by the United States Department of Justice, which alleged that about US$4.5 billion (S$6 billion) was misappropriated from 1MDB.

The department is seeking to seize about US$1.7 billion worth of 1MDB-linked assets, and is also pursuing a criminal probe.

The whereabouts of Mr Low, who rose to notoriety by throwing parties with Hollywood stars, are unknown. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.

On Thursday, he instructed his lawyers to get in touch with the MACC.

“Through media reports dated June 7, 2018, Mr Low was made aware of MACC requesting his assistance,” a spokesman for the businessman said in a statement.

“Following this, Mr Low immediately instructed his lawyers to make contact with MACC today, with respect to offering such assistance.” AGENCIES