KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian authorities on Friday filed charges against a financier of money laundering related to state investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

According to the court papers, Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, was slapped with eight charges in absentia under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Acts for engaging in money laundering.

Three of the charges stated that Low engaged in money laundering by receiving money of 261 million Ringgit in total at BSI Bank in Singapore from December 2013 to June 2014.

Another five charges claimed Low for unlawfully transferring 196 million U.S. dollars in total at the same bank from January to June, 2014.

Meanwhile, his father Low Hock Peng was charged for transferring money amounting to 56.45 million ringgit to his son.

Low was reported to be close to former Prime Minister Najib Razak and allegedly a key figure in handling 1MDB. Najib has also been charged related to 1MDB.

Low has insisted on his innocence but hasn't returned to the country so far.

On Friday, A Malaysian court granted application by the government to sell a luxury yacht worth some 250 million U.S. dollars which was allegedly bought by Low with money from 1MDB. (1 U. S. dollar equals 4.09 Malaysian Ringgit)