KUALA LUMPUR – Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, has failed his appeal against the decision by the Cyprus government to revoke his citizenship and passport.
Foreign daily Cyprus Mail reported that an independent committee had rejected Low’s appeal on May 17 last year, following which the nation’s home minister had presented the matter during a cabinet meeting on June 5.
Quoting a government source, the newspaper said the cabinet had then issued an order to strip Low of his Cypriot citizenship and passport.
This comes amid Low being on the run from authorities and accusations levelled against him regarding his role in the global financial scandal involving Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Last year, the Cyprus cabinet decided to revoke Low’s citizenship, which he received in 2015 through the island’s now-defunct citizenship-by-investment programme – also known as the golden passport scheme.
To secure his citizenship status, Low had reportedly purchased a seaside mansion in Ayia Napa for €5 million (approximately RM25.56 million).
He also donated around €310,000 to the late ex-Archbishop Chrysostomos, who allegedly “put in a good word” on the businessman’s behalf to the government.
While Low was under investigation when he was granted the foreign citizenship, he was only declared a wanted man in October 2016 once Interpol issued a red notice against him.
Following the 2018 Malaysian general election, the Pakatan Harapan government reopened investigations and issued arrest warrants against Penang-born Low, who is said to be the mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal. – June 7, 2024