Malaysian police said on 10 July they had asked Macau authorities of China to detain Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, a key figure in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is wanted in Malaysia for questioning relating to the huge scandal involving state fund 1 MDB. (Source: The STAR/ASIA News Network)

Low is believed to leave Hong Kong (China) for Macau.

Inspector-general of Malaysian police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the police have applied for an Interpol red notice to seek assistance from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, China and Hong Kong, according to the Malaysian news agency Bernama.

Earlier, a Malaysian police team came to Hong Kong to track down Low after being tipped off. However, the fugitive fled to Macau.

Malaysian police also asked Macau authorities to help.

Macau police confirmed they had received the request from Malaysia and they are considering the request.

Last week, Malaysia authorities cancelled Low's passport at the request of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to help with investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

1MDB is an investment fund formed by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in with the aim of serving Malaysia’s development through global partnerships and foreign direct investment.

However, it became the centre of a money laundering scandal, allegedly causing losses of up to 3.7 billion USD and leading to probes into the financial markets in several countries such as the US, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.

Former PM Najib was accused for the loss of 3.7 billion USD in transactions with other countries through the 1MDB.

(Source: VNA)