Dr Mahathir claims Jho Low already swiped most of 1MDB money.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today accused Jho Low of absconding with most of the money from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The prime minister said the money that the United States and Singapore pledged to return to Malaysia last week is not a lot, compared to the amount that is still missing.
“He stole all the money, missing from 1MDB alone was RM42 billion. Who keeps the money? Where is it?” Dr Mahathir said.
“I think there is some evidence Jho Low has taken a lot of money for himself,” Dr Mahathir told a group media interview.
He also stressed that Malaysian authorities are still looking for Low, and have not given up despite the difficulties in doing so.
Last month, Chinese vernacular newspaper Sin Chew Daily cited sources as saying that Low had recently travelled between Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing and Hainan in China.
The paper said its source had highlighted that the Malaysian police were still working with China’s public security bureau to trace Low, but noted that China did not have his specific location.
Last week, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia hopes to recover about US$7 billion of 1MDB funds from various sources.
It has been reported that the US and Singapore are expected to facilitate the return of about US$226 million of the funds.
This includes US$140 million from the sale of a stake in New York’s Park Lane Hotel and US$60 million from the settlement payment by the producer of the Wolf of Wall Street movie.
Singapore authorities have pledged to return about S$35 million recovered from former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng and his family.
Authorities in at least six countries are investigating suspected money laundering and corruption linked to 1MDB, which was set up in 2009 by then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.