KUALA LUMPUR (May 31): The lawyer for the family of Kee Kok Thiam, a former aide to Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), informed that Kee died at a hospital due to a massive stroke.
Messrs Valen, Oh and Partners said they represented Kee and his family, and referred to the various media articles on Kee’s passing away and the circumstances.
“Kee died on May 29 (Monday) in a hospital of a sudden massive stroke. We urge all parties not to entertain any speculation on this unfortunate event, and allow the family the space to grief on his passing,” the firm said.
It is understood that Kee suffered the stroke on Saturday, and was brought to the Sungai Buloh Hospital before he succumbed to it on Monday.
Prior to this, an obituary announcing Kee’s passing made its rounds, with an Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) source confirming his sudden death.
Earlier this month, the MACC issued a statement that it had brought back and arrested an individual linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, who was believed to be a former close aide to Jho Low.
At that time, Kee’s name was not revealed.
Kee was said to have played a role in 1MDB and its former subsidiary company SRC International Sdn Bhd, and was said to have arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) on May 3 at 3.30am.
“After arriving at klia2, he was issued with a notice to be present at the MACC headquarters at 10am [on May 4]. The MACC recorded his statement and searched his property on the same day,” a source with the MACC said.
According to the MACC, it was believed that the individual had received illegal funds from 1MDB and SRC through Wright Shaw Ltd. His name appeared in the 1MDB trials, and he was said to have deposited cash into former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s accounts.
Prior to this, the MACC, with the help of Singapore’s Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), seized Wright Shaw’s bank accounts amounting to US$5.2 million, and investigations showed that the money was from 1MDB, through Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia.
The MACC, along with Singapore’s CAD, also managed to bring back RM16 million from Totality Ltd, which was owned by Casey Tang Keng Chee, another 1MDB fugitive.
Tang was the executive director of commercial development of 1MDB from 2012 to 2013, and was involved with 1MDB since its inception as Terengganu Investment Authority.
“Tang was involved in the conspiracy to confuse banks and hiding the fact from the 1MDB board of directors to move US$700 million to Good Star Ltd, which was controlled by Low Taek Jho or Jho Low,” the MACC statement said.
Charged under Section 23 of the MACC Act, Tang has been placed on Interpol's Red Notice since leaving the country on June 29, 2019.