Be fair! Jho Low has to come back and face trial - Akhbar Satar

KUALA LUMPUR: It is not fair for Malaysia if Jho Low is not prosecuted in court simply because he is willing to cooperate with the authorities and return the money and assets of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

President of the The Malaysian Association Certified Fraud Examiners (MACFE), Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar said the court should determine every action and punishment against the businessman in the hunt and he should return to Malaysia for trial.

"If the money is to be returned, we will not prosecute, this is not fair. Importantly, we in Malaysia, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have a role to prosecute him in court.

"So, it is important for any action to be taken in court. We have to make sure, when the court decides, whether imprisonment or not, it is within the jurisdiction of the court.

"This is because, the offense he committed has an act set under the MACC," he told Astro AWANI today.

He was commenting on Jho Low's statement in an exclusive post on Al Jazeera earlier today that said he only borrowed from 1MDB and was willing to return the money and assets provided he would not be prosecuted in court.

Akhbar said, a person cannot escape the court hearing even if he wants to return the assets that have been taken.

"Of course it will be followed by the enforcement of the act on the offenses committed. Importantly, wrong or not wrong, it is determined by the court.

"We cannot set early to hand over the property. Because, if we look, a lot has been spent. This is not fair. Jho Low needs to come back and face trial," he said.

Meanwhile, Akhbar said, the MACC has strong evidence to bring Jho Low to court after he was accused of embezzling 1MDB money.

Thus, he added, Malaysia has handed over to the international police jurisdiction to track down the businessman.