US preparing charges against 1MDB financier Jho Low

[KUALA LUMPUR] US authorities are planning to file criminal charges against Malaysian financier Jho Low in a money laundering investigation surrounding 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The charges would also include wire fraud against Low and some of his associates, the paper said, citing people it didn't identify. The report said the prosecution's plans could change or be dropped as the probe continues and there was no timing provided on when the charges could be filed.

The Malaysian investment fund is at the heart of multiple investigations across the globe, with US prosecutors previously characterizing Low as the controller of a scheme involving dozens of illicit payments draining billions from 1MDB. The U.S. Department of Justice said in July that more than US$3.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, as the agency sought to seize about US$1 billion of assets it claims was laundered through the US banking system.

Low, known for partying with Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, directed funds from 1MDB to connected individuals and for the "personal gratification" of himself and his associates, US prosecutors had said. Low had described to newspapers his ties to 1MDB as informal consulting work that didn't break any laws.

The US Department of Justice didn't respond to a call for comment on the report. Low's Hong Kong-based company Jynwel Capital didn't respond immediately to an email request for comment on the potential charges. 1MDB, which has consistently denied any wrongdoing, didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.

Singapore police in November identified Low as a "key person of interest" in its money laundering probe that it described as a complex and sophisticated investigation involving billions of dollars. Singapore is also building a potential criminal case against Low, the WSJ said, citing a person familiar with the probe that it didn't identify.

Malaysia's government has said it will cooperate with lawful investigations of local companies or its citizens in relation to the fund.

BLOOMBERG