Parent's home seized, How is Jho Loh to return?

[Updated: 24/3/2019 7:00 AM]

The Star reported today that the home of Taek Jho Loh's parent was seized under AMLA law by government.

To the Chinese, their family home, more so ancesteral home, are almost sacred. Will that mean Jho Loh should come out of the woodwork to defend them?

But then, a petty, but pertinent matter to any mother would be:

How is Jho Loh to return, if government took away their home? 

If used as reason to justify Jho Loh not return to Malaysia, it will disappoint Malaysians.

Many are seeking the full episode of 1MDB to unfold and the truth on whether Tun Dr Mahathir's allegation that Dato Najib is a thief is not a politically motivated slander.

There is basis to doubt Mahathir.

He has yet to reveal anything sensible and justified explanation to his claim RM42 billion "lesap".

More so, Tan Sri Muhyiddin said in June 2018 that Jho Loh is the main criminal. So Najib is a mere thief  but getting the full brunt of Mahathir's political vengence?

Interpol drama

Muhyiddin said then that they know Jho Loh's whereabout.

But only in October last year that police seek Interpol's help. Singapore requested Interpol's help in October 2016 with Malaysia's knowledge.

Police's CID with the consent of the Attorney General filed charges against Jho Loh and his father for money laundering in late August last year.

Local media did not report but Singapore's Straits Times reported the charge was to enable a new warrant of arrest for Interpol.

The forfeiting of the Loh's family home could be related to this court action.

However. Jho Loh through his representative questioned the action. The house is not related to 1MDB as it was purchased 10 years before 1MDB. 

It is tantamount to abusing AMLA and overextending process for Interpol assistance. 

Interpol's assistance does not mean the elusive Jho Loh could be easily captured and deported back.

Goldman Sachs wayang  

In November, US Department of Justice charged Jho Loh and his fellow accomplice for money laundering for a total sum of US$4.5 billion.

For an amount worth almost RM20 billion, only one charge? Hire Tommy Thomas, Dato Gopal Sri Ram and Dato Sulaiman Abdullah. They could churn out at least 60 charges! 

Charged they did as Jho Loh was also charged in absentia together with four others for AMLA offenses related to Petrosaudi deal in early December.

On December 17, Malaysian government initiated criminal actions against Goldman together with the accomplices.

It is a bold and necessary action in-sync with WSJ Tom Bradley's Whale book fingers pointing at Goldman Sach and its executives as mastermind and conspirator to cheat 1MDB.

It was followed with a class action lawsuit by 1MDB bond and various papers investors against Goldman in the US.

These court actions involving Jho Loh are significant but there is no credibility without the presence of Jho Loh.

If Malaysia's intention is to recover the "stolen" 1MDB money, why pursue a criminal action against Goldman?

It requires more rigorous evidence and proof than an on balance consideration for judges to make decisions.

Goldman could afford millions of legal fee to save its reputation. This Jewish investment banker has worldwide influence to pressure the Malaysian court.

The sudden pullout of Tan Sri Mokhzani's UK business partner may not have come out of the blue.

In the meanwhile, Malaysia is relying on Tommy Thomas, the "morally upright" constitutional expert, but novice in prosecution and inadequate for criminal law. He has to rely on DPPs who silently resented his racist remarks against Malays said in private.

The Goldman legal action by government looks more of a wayang than a serious effort. Sufficient to get some idiot to claim Mahathir hebat for suing Goldman. 

Singapore's reluctance

Singapore only began to investigate Goldman Sachs and consider criminal investigation.

However, it is only done after Malaysia and DOJ taken their legal actions. Otherwise, Singapore dare not and would have kept silent to protect their interest as regional financial centre.

Nevertheless, their saving grace is for being first country to do a case related to 1MDB back in 2017. They got conviction against ex-BSI banker, fined an ex-trader for bribery, and pursued an ex-Falcon Bank executive.

The charges are not directly related to 1MDB but for flouting banking rule. Najib's detractor claimed it as 1MDB case.

Same with Singapore's request for Jho Loh in 2016 was claimed as Malaysia's indirect request for Interpol assistance. Obviously, no red alert notice was made since Singapore has no locus standi.

Jho Loh diversion

The long and short of the story is the Malaysian government remained unconvincing on their explanation of Jho Loh's whereabouts and intentions to capture and extradite him.

It may have made Lim Kit Siang restless to blurt out the same curiosity. Only the propagandist in him enquire indirectly by diverting the question from government to Dato Hishamuddin.

The government's answer seemed to be through creating more drama to get Singapore to seize Jho Loh's private jet and did a questionable seizure of superyatch Equinimity.

Singapore told media that Malaysian government did not request for the private jet to be turned over.

Equally questionable, DOJ dismissed the forfeiture of Equinimity, but government seized the superyatch to wayang intention to sell it for RM1.2 billion.

It did not attract any bidders due to it's unclear status, and cost taxpayers US$500,000 per month to maintain.

All the drama, the only response to Lim Kit Siang was a possibility of reward for Jho Loh in February?

The Rantau by-election will be in April. Maybe there will be more drama to cover up the absence of the main criminal from the 1MDB cases in court. 

The pre-trial for government criminal charge against Goldman is due in June. That is a script to come. 

AGC should have given Goldman a Malaysian hospitality with 100 lawsuits; one for every correspondence. 😉

With a new IGP to come, maybe Jho Loh will be brought back.