The Cyprus’ Orthodox Church will return Low Taek Jho’s €310,000 (RM1.4 million) donation if the fugitive financier is stripped of his Cyprus citizenship, a Cypriot daily reports.
The Financial Mirror quoted the church as saying that it accepted Low’s donation as it was above-board, and that vetting procedures found no wrongdoing which would have seen Low, or Jho Low, being denied citizenship in the country.
The government of Cyprus is reportedly stripping 26 individuals of their citizenship after claims that some investors had dubious backgrounds.
Low, who is wanted in Malaysia over his alleged role in the 1MDB scandal, is one of the 26 investors.
Previously, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, who heads the Orthodox Church in Cyprus, denied reports that he helped Low to get a Cypriot passport in 2015.
Cyprus Mail had quoted him as saying that a developer who had purchased church land in Ayia Napa, had asked the church to promote the citizenship bid by Low.
Chrysostomos said the developer gave the church three names to lobby for citizenship and that he was unaware as to whom the citizenship was granted to.
Chrysostomos had also said Low had donated money to the theological school when he visited Cyprus. – FMT