Singapore: Hong Kong Declined Request to Arrest Jho Low in 1MDB

The statement came as authorities in Malaysia continue to try to track down Low, who has been identified by investigators in Malaysia and the United States as a key figure in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.

The U.S. Department of Justice says an estimated $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by high-level officials of the fund and their associates. At least six countries are conducting investigations into the affairs of 1MDB.

Singapore said Low, popularly known as Jho Low, was also a key person of interest to the city-state in its ongoing 1MDB-related probe.

"We issued a warrant of arrest for Low in April 2016, following investigations and charges against him for offenses of money-laundering and dishonestly receiving stolen property," Singapore police said in a statement on Wednesday.

Singapore sent a request to the Hong Kong Department of Justice in the same month for assistance to provisionally arrest Low, but its request was declined by Hong Kong authorities, the police said.

Low's spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Hong Kong Department of Justice does not comment on individual cases, a spokesman said when asked about the Singapore statement.

Singapore said the arrest warrant and an Interpol red notice against Low have been in force since 2016.

Malaysia has also applied for an Interpol red notice to seek assistance from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, China and Hong Kong as it seeks to detain Low.

REUTERS