KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya, through the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), has filed a RM68 million suit over unpaid tax arrears between 2010 to 2013 against Eric Tan Kim Loong, a known associate of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low.
Citing documents, The Edge reported today the application was filed last month in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on January 15, with Tan named as the sole defendant in documents sighted. His MyKad number in the suit matches the one on a police notice issued on him.
Case management is set for today. It is learnt that Tan, also known as “Fat Eric”, or his lawyer has yet to enter an appearance.
Notices issued on September 30, last year, revealed that Tan, 43, whose last known address was at Taman Pusat Kepong, allegedly owed the government RM2.706 million in 2010, RM22.090 million (2011), RM35.479 million (2012) and RM1.538 million (2013).
The statement of claim by the Malaysian government revealed that the notices were sent to the address on November 24, to which there has been no reply.
“As the defendant had failed to pay the amount owed as stipulated in the notice under Section 103 of the Income Tax Act 1967, a 10% surcharge is imposed on the unpaid amount, resulting in the additional charges of RM270,602.18 (2010), RM2,209,094.99 (2011), RM3,547,991.14 and RM153,847.30, are imposed,” the statement of claim read.
“The Malaysian government is entitled to get the unpaid assessment taxes that are owed and the additional charges.”
It noted that, until now, Tan has not paid the outstanding taxes, resulting in the amount increasing to RM67.996 million.
As such, the government is seeking the sum of RM67.996 million and 5% interest from the date of the judgement and costs of the action.
Tan first came to prominence when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) released a picture of him to aid in its investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
His identity as Jho Low’s right-hand man only became public during the trial of former BSI Bank of Singapore banker Yeo Jia Wei, who was sentenced to 54 months’ jail for his role in the 1MDB fiasco.
Tan, who was the front for Jho Low in all his banking transactions involving billions of ringgit from 1MDB, is a family friend and business partner to Jho Low’s siblings.
At some point, he was believed to be a shareholder in several companies in Malaysia and Singapore doing business with Jho Low’s relatives before becoming his go-to person and trusted aide.
During Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial, last year, it was revealed that Tan had given his statement to the MACC, claiming that he did not know the US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) “donation” recipient was the former prime minister.
Tan, who remains wanted by the authorities, has been living abroad for the past several years. – The Vibes, February 8, 2021
