Hunt for Jho Low still on despite his deal with US govt: Malaysian official

PUTRAJAYA Malaysia is aware of the deal that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, otherwise known as Jho Low, has cut with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), but will not be letting up on its hunt for him.

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Low reportedly entered into a confidential settlement with the DOJ regarding the forfeiture of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) assets, but sources in the federal administrative capital said this "in no way means that Malaysian authorities will stop looking for him".

A top-ranking official with knowledge of the investigation on IMDB and the hunt for the fugitive financier said the Malaysian government and the authorities were aware of the agreement between Low and the DOJ, which had once described the 1MDB scandal as the world's largest kleptocracy case.

The official said: "We are aware that both parties have entered into an agreement. We are in the know of what is happening.

"The agreement means that more assets related to 1MDB can be recovered and returned (to Malaysia)." But the official did not disclose when the DOJ and Low had made the agreement and whether the Malaysian authorities were involved in stipulating its terms.

But Malaysia would continue to track down Low, the official said.

The official added: "The agreement is about recovery of assets.