Jho Low's lawyers trying to stop 'The Kleptocrats' from being screened

PETALING JAYA (Aug 1): Lawyers working for fugitive financier Jho Low (pictured) are trying to stop the documentary 'The Kleptocrats' from being screened.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that lawyers working on behalf of Jho Low, claimed by the Department of Justice to be one of the central figures behind the 1MDB conspiracy and now a fugitive wanted by US, Malaysian and Singaporean authorities, have sent letters to a number of distributors and platforms carrying 'The Kleptocrats' asking for the film to be removed from their catalogues.

The Hollywood Reporter  stated that the London-based law firm Schillings has accused The Kleptocrats of defaming its client in claiming he is the central figure in the scandal, alongside infringing copyright in its use of video footage and potentially prejudicing various ongoing legal proceedings.

"But the filmmakers have fought back, asserting that the film not only has been vetted by their UK and US counsels but is also covered by its indemnities, thus negating any risk to the distributor. They also claim that the letter is simply an attempt at intimidation to silence the film, and that Low — currently believed to be hiding in China and subject to an arrest warrant — is widely considered by investigating authorities in the US, Singapore and Malaysia to have played a key role in the scandal.

“Knowing how passionately Schillings believe in the rule of law and justice I would be surprised if they were not willing to help law enforcement agencies in the United States, Singapore and Malaysia, in any way they can, to locate and bring to justice their client, the fugitive Jho Low, so he can answer for his alleged role in one of the largest financial frauds in history, a crime that has deeply affected the lives of so many ordinary Malaysians, struggling to maintain decent living conditions for their families in the face of shameless greed and naked corruption," said The Kleptocrats producer Mike Lerner of Roast Beef Productions, the Hollywood Reporter reported.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Starz and to Amazon, which continues to include The Kleptocrats on its library, and has asked Schillings if it does intend to help authorities locate its client.

'The Kleptocrats' is a documentary on the 1MDB corruption scandal, which saw in excess of US$4.5 billion allegedly stolen from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund and used to finance vast global shopping sprees, including a major foray into Hollywood.

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