Man Who Revealed Where Jho Low Is Living To MACC Has Suddenly Died
Kee Kok Thiam, a pivotal witness in the 1MDB scandal, returned to Malaysia less than a month ago.
Kee Kok Thiam, a suspect in the 1MDB scandal, returned to Malaysia on 3 May. The same day, he went to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and revealed fugitive Jho Low's whereabouts.
Less than a month after his return, Kee has suddenly died.
MACC has confirmed Kee's death, according to New Straits Times.
"Yes [...] a suspect we had detained has died," the English daily quoted a source as saying.
The confirmation comes after an obituary notice on Kee's death was circulated yesterday, 30 May.
According to Malay Mail, a senior official from the anti-graft agency also confirmed receiving news of Kee's death, adding that the latter had been released after being questioned by the commission.
While none of the MACC sources revealed anything further, multiple reports, including Free Malaysia Today, stated that the 56-year-old is believed to have died from a "sudden illness".
However, amidst speculations, Kee's lawyers, Valen, Oh and Partners, released a statement today, 31 May, stating that he died of a stroke on Monday, 29 May, reported New Straits Times.
"He died in a hospital of a sudden massive stroke. We urge all parties not to entertain any speculation on this unfortunate event and allow the family the space to grieve his passing," the statement said.
Kee had been described as Low's close associate
The financier, whose full name is Low Taek Jho and has been on the run since 2016, had reportedly warned Kee about returning to Malaysia and helping with the investigation.
On the day Kee arrived at KLIA Terminal 2, he was ordered to be present at the MACC's headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am, following which, investigators recorded his statement and searched his house.
During questioning by the MACC, Kee confirmed meeting Low in Macau.
Additionally, Kee told the investigators that he also met fellow 1MDB fugitives and suspects — Eric Tan Kim Loong, Casey Tang Keng Chee, Geh Choh Heng, and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, according to Malay Mail.
In September last year, journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope claimed that this photo allegedly shows Jho low at a shopping mall in Macau, China.
Image via Sinar Harian
Kee was released as no charges had been laid against him, however, MACC's investigation on Kee was focused on his assets in Singapore
MACC said investigators had been gathering intelligence since the government issued a travel ban against 1MDB suspects, including Kee, soon after the 2018 general election, as per an Al Jazeera report.
MACC shared with Al Jazeera that their investigation on Kee has been completed, with the investigation paper submitted to the Attorney General's office for the next course of action.
Meanwhile, Malay Mail quoted sources as saying that Kee was suspected of receiving money originating from 1MDB's misappropriated funds through Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) and SRC International through the bank account of a company known as Wright Shaw Limited.
Previously, the company's bank account, which contained around USD5.2 million (RM23 million), was seized by MACC with the cooperation of the Singapore police's Commercial Affairs Department.
In April, a Grammy Award-winning rapper was convicted of conspiring with Low, who paid RM89 million for a photo with the Obamas:
Back home, the Federal Court dismissed convicted former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application to review his conviction for stealing SRC International funds, a former subsidiary of 1MDB:
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