Malaysia's anti-corruption agency said Thursday it was seeking the assistance of a playboy financier as it steps up investigations into a massive financial scandal.

Jho Low is accused of being a key figure in the controversy surrounding sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. He is a close associate of toppled prime minister Najib Razak, and allegedly part of a scheme to plunder billions from the investment vehicle.

Public disgust over claims that the former leader and his cronies looted 1MDB were a major factor in the shock election loss last month of Najib's long-ruling coalition.

Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, notorious for her vast collection of designer handbags, have already been questioned by anti-corruption investigators over the disappearance of money from a former unit of 1MDB.

However, Low, a high-roller who hung out with celebrities in the US and reportedly splurged vast sums in New York party hotspots, is still at large and thought to be outside Malaysia.

The flamboyant 36-year-old held no official positions at 1MDB but is believed to have exerted great influence over the fund.

The US Justice Department alleges he funnelled vast sums of money from 1MDB to the United States, and used it to buy everything from rare art to high-end real estate. Low has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it was seeking Low to aid their investigations into SRC International, which used to be a subsidiary of 1MDB.

The anti-graft agency is also after the assistance of SRC director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that 42 million ringgit ($11 million) originating from SRC was transferred to Najib's personal bank accounts -- just one small part of the graft scandal.

A spokesman for Low said he was aware of the MACC request for assistance.

"Mr Low immediately instructed his lawyers to make contact with the MACC today with respect to offering such assistance," said a statement from the spokesman.

The financier's current whereabouts are unclear. He was believed to have been sailing around Asia on a luxury yacht allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB cash before it was seized off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali in February.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin meanwhile said that sufficient evidence had been gathered to bring Low to justice, state news agency Bernama reported.&nbsp;

Jho Low -- close associate of PM Najib Razak-- is accused of being a key figure in the controversy surrounding sovereign wealth fund 1MDB

Malaysia's anti-corruption agency said Thursday it was seeking the assistance of a playboy financier as it steps up investigations into a massive financial scandal. Jho Low is accused of being a key figure in the controversy surrounding sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. He is a close associate of toppled prime minister Najib Razak, and allegedly part of a scheme to plunder billions from the investment vehicle. Public disgust over claims that the former leader and his cronies looted 1MDB were a major factor in the shock election loss last month of Najib's long-ruling coalition. Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, notorious for her vast collection of designer handbags, have already been questioned by anti-corruption investigators over the disappearance of money from a former unit of 1MDB. However, Low, a high-roller who hung out with celebrities in the US and reportedly splurged vast sums in New York party hotspots, is still at large and thought to be outside Malaysia. The flamboyant 36-year-old held no official positions at 1MDB but is believed to have exerted great influence over the fund. The US Justice Department alleges he funnelled vast sums of money from 1MDB to the United States, and used it to buy everything from rare art to high-end real estate. Low has previously denied any wrongdoing. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it was seeking Low to aid their investigations into SRC International, which used to be a subsidiary of 1MDB. The anti-graft agency is also after the assistance of SRC director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil. The Wall Street Journal has reported that 42 million ringgit ($11 million) originating from SRC was transferred to Najib's personal bank accounts -- just one small part of the graft scandal. A spokesman for Low said he was aware of the MACC request for assistance. "Mr Low immediately instructed his lawyers to make contact with the MACC today with respect to offering such assistance," said a statement from the spokesman. The financier's current whereabouts are unclear. He was believed to have been sailing around Asia on a luxury yacht allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB cash before it was seized off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali in February. Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin meanwhile said that sufficient evidence had been gathered to bring Low to justice, state news agency Bernama reported.

Malaysia seeks playboy financier over 1MDB scandal

The head of Malaysia&#39;s anti-graft body will step down on August 1, the agency said on Thursday, more than two years before the scheduled end of a term that included an investigation of Prime Minister Najib Razak. 
 
The revelations of the investigation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal last year, have shaken investors in Southeast Asia&#39;s third-biggest economy and dented confidence in Najib&#39;s ruling coalition. 
 
Abu Kassim Mohamed, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), asked for his contract to be terminated earlier than expected, the agency said in a statement. 
 
&quot;There was no pressure from any parties towards the decision made by Abu Kassim to shorten his contract,&quot; it said, dismissing speculation in domestic media that pressure from the Prime Minister&#39;s office might have prompted the resignation. 
 
The Prime Minister&#39;s office did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment. 
 
Under Abu Kassim, who took on his role in the beginning of 2010, the anti-graft body began investigations into allegations of graft and financial mismanagement at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the transfer of 2.6 billion Ringgit ($647.09 million) to Najib&#39;s bank accounts. 
 
Malaysia&#39;s attorney-general cleared Najib of any criminal offences or corruption in January. Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said he did not take any money for personal gain. 
 
Abu Kassim&#39;s contract was to have run until December 4, 2018, the anti-graft body said, adding that the request to cut short his tenure followed an offer to be a visiting expert at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria. 
 
&quot;The request was made after I got the opportunity to improve Malaysia and MACC&#39;s name and international standing,&quot; Abu Kassim told reporters, adding that he will stay in the civil service until mandatory retirement in 2020. 
 
A second vacancy is coming up as his deputy, Shukri Abdull, will retire on October 3, Abu Kassim added, in a video of the news conference released by the agency. 
 
Najib was widely criticised last year after the government replaced Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who had led investigations into 1MDB, with Mohamed Apandi Ali. It cited Patail&#39;s failing health for the change ahead of his retirement. 
 
($1 = 4.0180 ringgit) 
 
(Reuters)

Abu Kassim Mohamed, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, will vacate the post on August 1

The head of Malaysia's anti-graft body will step down on August 1, the agency said on Thursday, more than two years before the scheduled end of a term that included an investigation of Prime Minister Najib Razak. The revelations of the investigation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal last year, have shaken investors in Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy and dented confidence in Najib's ruling coalition. Abu Kassim Mohamed, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), asked for his contract to be terminated earlier than expected, the agency said in a statement. "There was no pressure from any parties towards the decision made by Abu Kassim to shorten his contract," it said, dismissing speculation in domestic media that pressure from the Prime Minister's office might have prompted the resignation. The Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment. Under Abu Kassim, who took on his role in the beginning of 2010, the anti-graft body began investigations into allegations of graft and financial mismanagement at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the transfer of 2.6 billion Ringgit ($647.09 million) to Najib's bank accounts. Malaysia's attorney-general cleared Najib of any criminal offences or corruption in January. Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said he did not take any money for personal gain. Abu Kassim's contract was to have run until December 4, 2018, the anti-graft body said, adding that the request to cut short his tenure followed an offer to be a visiting expert at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria. "The request was made after I got the opportunity to improve Malaysia and MACC's name and international standing," Abu Kassim told reporters, adding that he will stay in the civil service until mandatory retirement in 2020. A second vacancy is coming up as his deputy, Shukri Abdull, will retire on October 3, Abu Kassim added, in a video of the news conference released by the agency. Najib was widely criticised last year after the government replaced Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who had led investigations into 1MDB, with Mohamed Apandi Ali. It cited Patail's failing health for the change ahead of his retirement. ($1 = 4.0180 ringgit) (Reuters)

Malaysia's anti-graft panel chief to step down

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Malaysia seeks playboy financier over 1MDB scandal

Malaysia's anti-graft panel chief to step down