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Wall Street firm sets aside Jho Low-linked profits pending DOJ lawsuits
Published:  Aug 3, 2016 12:22 PM
Updated: 7:22 AM
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A Wall Street investment firm is setting aside profits linked to investments made by businessman Jho Low, pending the outcome of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuits to seize 1MDB-linked assets.

The Malaysian-born Low was among four named in the lawsuits which aim to seize US$1 billion worth of assets believed to have been purchased by funds siphoned from 1MDB.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Jho Low's Jynwel Capital purchased a seven percent stake in the Wall Street investment firm Electrum for US$150 million in 2012.

“We have been monitoring this situation since the initial news reports,” a spokesperson for Electrum told the US financial daily.

“Accordingly, Electrum has taken steps to ensure that Jynwel’s investment and its associated profits have been safeguarded and sequestered while the matter is pending."

The DOJ in a filing said Hollywood production firm Red Granite will set aside its future profits from the 2013 film 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and 2012 film 'Friends with Kids' pending the DOJ lawsuits.

The DOJ also withdrew its application proposing a restraining order on Red Granite, which belongs to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stepson Riza Aziz.

This means Red Granite can still pay its vendors while royalties to actors and other service providers for the film 'The Wolf of Wall Street' will not be affected.

Riza was also named in the lawsuits, which alleged that funds siphoned from 1MDB was used to bankroll 'The Wolf of Wall Street'.

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