St Kitts and Nevis revokes Jho Low’s passport

KUALA LUMPUR — The St Kitts and Nevis government has revoked fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho’s passport, reports a news portal.

Prime Minister Timothy Harris rescinded Low’s passport in June, said the St Kitts & Nevis Observer.

“Prime Minister Timothy Harris’ administration took the decision, out of an abundance of caution, to deactivate Jho Low’s St Kitts and Nevis passport through Interpol in June,” it said.

The St Kitts & Nevis Observer said Low became an “economic citizen” of the Caribbean nation in 2011 but had never set foot in the country.

“Jho Low ...has never at any time entered the country. Immigration records indicate that Jho Low has never entered any port in St Kitts and Nevis.”

The move came after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Penang-born Low, better known as Jho Low, was a wanted man for alleged money-laundering involving funds siphoned off state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

It was earlier reported that Low had two passports using the same name. His Malaysian passport was revoked in July.

Low was charged by Malaysia in absentia for money-laundering and was also recently indicted by the United States Department of Justice for conspiring to steal millions of ringgit from 1MDB.

He has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

The whereabouts of Low remains unknown after Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the fugitive businessman was not in China, as speculated.

The newly-elected Pakatan Harapan government had already put in a request for Interpol to locate Low. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT