Fugitive Malaysian businessman Jho Low, one of the main accused in the 1MDB scandal, has reportedly picked former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and U.S. law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres among the lawyers to represent him.
Low, who is wanted for money laundering in the 1MDB scandal, is said to have siphoned a huge sum from the Malaysian strategic development firm. Recently, 1MDB and three other plaintiffs submitted an application before the Admiralty Court in Kuala Lumpur to sell a $250-million superyacht owned by Low.
Christie, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, is known as a staunch defender of U.S. president Donald Trump. He will reportedly represent Low Christie in the civil forfeiture case brought against his properties by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Trump’s go-to law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres will be representing Low in the ongoing investigation of people believed to be involved in raising funds for 1MDB and siphoning them.
Low is regarded as having been close to former prime minister Najib Razak who was earlier charged for money laundering and abuse of power in connection with funds transferred from a former unit of 1MDB.
Allegedly more than $4.5 billion was diverted from 1MDB and laundered through a web of shell companies and bank accounts located in the United States and elsewhere.
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