Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador today confirmed news reports that 1MDB fugitive Jho Low has been attempting to negotiate with the government for immunity against prosecution since 2018.
The inspector-general of police said he learnt about it when he was still head of the police Special Branch.
“Yes. I was informed by the AG’s office then,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Hamid has assured safe passage for fugitive businessperson Low to return to Malaysia.
“If he thinks he is innocent, why is he still in hiding?
“He can return any time to enable him to explain to the attorney-general. And I can assure him of safe passage.
“But as it is now, in the eyes of the law, he is a fugitive,” Hamid was quoted as saying.
He lamented that Low was so stealthy that “not even the mightiest law enforcement body with the most advanced technology can detect him”.
In 2018, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin revealed that Low had contacted him to seek immunity.
“I told him ‘no’. If he wants to help, better come back first so that we can discuss.
“He claimed he is innocent, so if you are innocent you come back here. Why are you running away?” Daim had said.
Low had been charged, in absentia, for money laundering involving a sum of US$1.03 billion (RM4.2 billion) in late 2018.
In the Al-Jazeera recordings, Low said that he was willing to cooperate to repatriate assets bought with the funds.
Earlier report: Nov 17, Report: Jho Low Tried to Bargain His Way out of Trouble with Previous PH Govt