KUALA LUMPUR (July 13): Lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad and Edmund Bon have stated that they are acting for former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, who was arrested last Friday (July 7), and her priority is to cooperate with the relevant law enforcement agencies in their ongoing investigations into the now-defunct fund, and facilitate and assist the Malaysian government in expediting its asset recovery efforts.
In a statement on their law firm AmerBon Advocates' website, they said Loo is now in custody after her arrest, and that she is looking forward to reuniting with her family.
“Our client has always treated Malaysia as her home. When appropriate, she will reveal the facts and circumstances surrounding her years away from Malaysia.
“Our client has absolute trust and confidence in the Malaysian judicial and legal system, and will face all matters accordingly. She seeks privacy and space to do what is necessary at this time," the lawyers said.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that Loo was arrested and held under remand at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.
He said that she is being investigated under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust.
The minister, however, did not want to divulge the way Loo was arrested, and said that the police should answer the question.
“This case (1MDB) is never ending, but whatever it is, the government would react according to the law if it involves any individual. What is important is that she has been arrested,” Saifuddin said.
Loo is one of those who had been away from the country since 2018 and was wanted by the authorities.
Her name cropped up during former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial, which concluded with his conviction, and the ongoing 1MDB-Tanore criminal trial.
Loo is said to be one of the accomplices of fugitive Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low.
The government had also pursued forfeiture proceedings against Loo, whereby her Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI and a Volkswagen New Beetle 1.6(A) and cash amounting to RM22,600 were forfeited by the High Court in January this year. Meanwhile, her condo in Mukim Batu was handed to OCBC Bank.
She is also one of the defendants in the US$8 billion suit filed by 1MDB against her, Najib and former 1MDB officers.
A few months back, Jho Low's other accomplice Kee Kok Thiam also surrendered to the authorities. However, Kee, 56, died a few weeks later in May at the Sungai Buloh Hospital due to a massive stroke.
Najib was found guilty of all seven charges in relation to SRC, and has been serving his 12-year jail term since Aug 23 last year. He was also fined RM210 million.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, when contacted by The Edge, also confirmed that Loo is with the police.