KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui, accused of defrauding followers of over US$1 billion (RM4.70 billion), concluded his defence on Tuesday in the Manhattan Federal Court, according to Courthouse News Service on Tuesday.

The defence featured testimony from former Justice Department (DOJ) senior congressional affairs specialist George Higginbotham, said the report.

Higginbotham, who admitted in 2018 to a conspiracy to lobby for foreign interests, testified to working with Malaysian fugitive Low Taek Jho or Jho Low on a failed attempt to influence the Trump administration for Guo’s extradition to China, added the report.

Higginbotham also implicated Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees, who was convicted in 2023 for conspiracy to defraud the US, said the news service.

Higginbotham stated that Michel initially presented the scheme, saying it could be lucrative through the extradition of Guo, the report said.

Guo, also known as Ho Wan Kwok and Miles Guo, faces charges of defrauding supporters via fake investment deals related to his anti-communist activism, added the report.

He contended that the Chinese Communist Party is targeting him, including through the criminal proceedings in New York, said the news service.