KUALA LUMPUR (May 19):  The Cyprus Cabinet has decided to revoke the Cypriot citizenship of wanted fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), according to a report in the country’s media.

Citing a source apprised of the matter, the Cyprus Mail on Thursday (May 18) reported the passport revocation.

The decision at the Cabinet was based on the recommendation of the interior minister, it said.

Asked whether the Cabinet had on Thursday stripped any other persons of their citizenship, the source said no.

Earlier in the day, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) had reported that the decision was taken after the interior ministry had received fresh information about Low.

CNA said that, after the government in March realised it lacked sufficient evidence to rescind Low’s citizenship, the interior ministry reached out to Interpol for additional data.

Based on this data from Interpol, the interior ministry was able to recommend the revocation of the passport.

Low was granted Cypriot citizenship back in 2015.

Despite being flagged as high-risk, local mediators filed an application on his behalf, and in June of that year, Low transferred close to €6 million into an account in Bank of Cyprus.

Low reportedly bought a seaside mansion in Ayia Napa for €5 million and got citizenship within a couple of days.

He had also donated around €310,000 to the late ex-Archbishop Chrysostomos, who put in a good word with the interior ministry.

The story broke in 2019, after the island’s citizenship-by-investment programme — also referred to as the “golden passports” scheme — came under intense scrutiny.

Low had remained a Cypriot citizen despite the government having launched proceedings to revoke that status in 2021.

Regarding Low, Chrysostomos had confirmed having met him but that he was unaware at the time that the Malaysian was under investigation for financial crimes (related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd, or 1MDB).

“I met Mr Low. He wanted to make a donation, but I initially declined. He insisted,” Chrysostomos testified before a panel led by former Supreme Court judge Myron Nicolatos,

“I met him over a meal at the Archbishopric. I thanked him for the donation and said it would go to the Theological School. Later, I learned that the amount was €300,000.”

Chrysostomos said that around that timeframe, he had sent a letter to then interior minister Socratis Hasikos, asking him to give Low special consideration as a candidate for Cypriot citizenship.

But, Chrysostomos added, Low was issued a passport by the time the minister read his letter.

Low applied and obtained a Cypriot passport in late 2015, via the citizenship-by-investment scheme.

Although under investigation at the time, Low was not officially a wanted man until October 2016, when Interpol issued a red notice on him.

After the 14th Malaysian general elections in 2018, the new government of Malaysia reopened an investigation and issued arrest warrants against Low.