A senior Malaysian lawmaker on Thursday denied that fugitive businessman Jho Low had entered the country for talks linked to the theft of billions of dollars from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, faces multiple charges, including corruption and money laundering, in the United States and Malaysia for the central role he allegedly played in the misappropriation of at least US$4.5 billion from 1MDB.
He has consistently denied wrongdoing and his whereabouts are unknown.
News portal Sarawak Report, which had played a major role in uncovering the 1MDB scandal, reported in May that Low had secretly entered Malaysia last year as part of a Chinese delegation to negotiate debts linked to 1MDB.
The Wall Street Journal reported separately in May that Low was in talks with Malaysian authorities on returning 1MDB-linked assets.
Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong denied the details of both reports after being questioned in parliament by lawmakers on 1MDB matters.