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New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Jho Low reportedly living in luxury in China under unofficial protection
KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is reportedly living in luxury in China under unofficial protection, according to fresh claims by investigative journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright. Speaking in their podcast, Finding Jho Low, which aired on Friday, the authors of Billion Dollar Whale revealed that Low is allegedly residing in Shanghai's upscale Green Hills neighbourhood and operating under a forged Australian passport using the alias "Constantinos Achilles Veis." They claimed that former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had allegedly advised Low to flee the country as scrutiny of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal intensified, prompting him to escape to China where he had familial ties in the Chiuchow region. "Despite being a fugitive, he is living comfortably, driving luxury cars and accompanied by Chinese security guards. It appears he is not under house arrest but enjoying an unrestricted life," Hope said in the podcast. Hope and Wright, who spent years tracking Low's global movements, also alleged that Malaysia lost as much as US$6 billion (RM28 billion) in Belt and Road Initiative-linked projects that were engineered with Low's involvement, mirroring the pattern of financial manipulation seen in the 1MDB scandal. Among the most revealing claims was that Low had allegedly cultivated ties with high-ranking Chinese political figures and intelligence officers, positioning himself as a "shadow broker" who influenced Malaysia's foreign policy tilt towards Beijing. The podcast also highlighted how Low allegedly played a role in corrupt infrastructure deals such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which involved bribes to Chinese officials, including former deputy public security minister Sun Lijun, who was later jailed for corruption. A turning point in the investigation came in 2019 when a photo of Low at Shanghai Disneyland surfaced. Analysts said the image helped identify his close-knit circle and added weight to claims that he is under unofficial protection by Chinese authorities. Hope and Wright suggested that Low has rebranded himself in China as a "dark arts coordinator," helping Chinese companies navigate complex regulatory environments, especially when dealing with the United States. "He is not just hiding. He is actively helping Chinese entities operate in hostile geopolitical terrain. That makes him valuable," Wright said. The journalists also claimed that Low had maintained an office at the Shanghai World Financial Centre, further suggesting he was actively engaged in financial or strategic work, rather than merely evading law enforcement. Much of the information shared in the podcast came from undisclosed documents and confidential sources, which the journalists said they could not reveal due to safety concerns. These revelations challenge earlier assumptions that Low was under house arrest or moving covertly from one location to another. Instead, they paint a picture of a man who remains influential and protected within a powerful foreign system. Law enforcement agencies, including those in Malaysia and the United States, may now have to recalibrate their approach in seeking Low's return as calls grow louder for accountability in the multibillion-dollar corruption scandal.
Business Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Bugatti, bodyguards and a Greek alias: Journalists claim Malaysian fugitive Jho Low is living large in Shanghai
[KUALA LUMPUR] In what could be the strongest lead yet in the hunt for fugitive Jho Low, journalist and Billion Dollar Whale co-author Tom Wright said he has passed fresh intelligence to the Malaysian authorities, alleging that the mastermind behind one of the world's biggest money laundering scandals could now be holed up in a gated enclave of Tudor-style villas in Shanghai, living under a Greek alias and travelling on a forged Australian passport. Wright told The Business Times he recently messaged the Malaysian authorities, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, via X (formerly Twitter), to share the newly uncovered details on the whereabouts of Low, one of the world's most wanted men accused of embezzling billions of dollars from Malaysia's state-owned fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). 'We haven't really located him yet. But the search is very much alive,' Wright said in a phone interview with BT on Monday (Jul 21). 'But we hope to continue to receive more information. All the information we receive is verified to high journalistic standards.' In a livestream by Project Brazen titled 'Finding Jho Low' released on Jul 18, Wright and co-author Bradley Hope reveal they have received tips and documents suggesting that the Penang-born Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, is living in Green Hills in Shanghai. The upscale enclave, often associated with corporate elites, is just a 15-minute drive from the Shanghai World Financial Centre, where, the duo say, Low maintains an office. 'What we have learned from a variety of sources, he is actually back in business in a big way,' said Wright in the programme. Low is also said to own a fleet of luxury cars, including a Bugatti, and is routinely accompanied by at least two security personnel, whom they believe to be government employees. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up They also claim to have uncovered that Low is allegedly operating under the alias 'Constantinos Achilles Veis' and using a forged Australian passport to mask his identity. Jho Low is wanted in both Malaysia and the US for allegedly embezzling some US$4.5 billion from the fund. The pair hope that their findings will reignite global interest in Low's case. They have turned to unconventional methods, including launching a YouTube channel, a satirical website and even a meme coin to incentivise whistle-blowers. Their cryptocurrency, $JHOLOW, serves as a reward mechanism for individuals who provide verifiable information about Low's whereabouts or evidence related to the 1MDB scandal. Wright said: 'We're using meme coins as an incentive to encourage people to share more information, helping us uncover the truth. We see this as a tool for investigative journalism, and it's effective. We have received a significant amount of information, which is helping us corroborate and verify leads.' Tips submitted through the pair's YouTube channel have included what appears to be a recent passport photo of Low under the alias, and claims that he has opened an office in Shanghai. Wright said they are now verifying each lead. Low is wanted in both Malaysia and the US for allegedly embezzling some US$4.5 billion from 1MDB; an Interpol Red Notice has been in effect since 2018. Despite repeated efforts by Malaysian enforcement agencies to track him down, his whereabouts have remained unknown. Since taking office, Anwar has said that locating Low is a priority. As recently as in 2024, then-Inspector General of Police Razarudin Husain said there were still no concrete leads. On Jul 19, Anwar told reporters that Malaysia had not received any information regarding the claims of Low's presence in China. 'I have no information; we have yet to receive anything. I have read (the media reports), let me check. I need to verify with the Home Minister,' he was quoted by Bernama as having said. Wright and Hope, both former Wall Street Journal reporters, played key roles in helping to shed light on the 1MDB scandal. The mammoth fraud ultimately contributed to the downfall of Malaysia's long-ruling Barisan Nasional government and former prime minister Najib Razak. After the 2018 publication of Billion Dollar Whale, their book that exposed one of history's most notorious fraud cases, Wright and Hope co-founded Project Brazen in 2021. This platform focuses on producing investigative content with a global scope, rather than limiting it to a single country. They also aim to monetise their investigative work by adapting their findings into documentaries, television shows, and films. Najib's 1MDB trial nears end, Jho Low still elusive Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is currently standing trial for 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power involving RM2.3 billion from 1MDB. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak established 1MDB in 2009, but was later accused of channelling over RM2.6 billion from the fund into his personal accounts while overseeing 1MDB as head of its advisory board. Najib lost office in 2018 amid the scandal, and was convicted in 2020 for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International, a 1MDB subsidiary, leading to a six-year prison sentence after a royal pardon. He is now standing trial for 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power involving RM2.3 billion from 1MDB, with closing arguments set for end-October. Jho Low is considered a crucial witness in the 1MDB trial because of his alleged central role in orchestrating fund flows and operations. Key witnesses and investigators have testified that 1MDB officials often treated his instructions as coming directly from Najib. They have also said his actions are closely linked to the billions misappropriated from the fund. His testimony is therefore critical in terms of offering crucial insights into Najib's alleged involvement and the broader mechanics of the 1MDB scandal.
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Jho Low in Shanghai under alias? Anwar says he's read the news, will check with Home Ministry
GEORGE TOWN, July 19 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said he will verify with the Home Ministry following reports that wanted businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is currently living the high life in China. Anwar affirmed that he had read about Low's latest purported sighting that has generated global buzz since yesterday. 'We have yet to get any information. Let me check,' he was quoted by the New Straits Times as telling reporters after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kompleks Madani Teluk Kumbar in Penang. 'I will need to check with the home minister about it,' he added, referring to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Former Wall Street Journal journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright who authored a best selling book titled Billion Dollar Whale claimed in a livestream yesterday that Low is residing in Green Hills, a luxury enclave in Shanghai. They alleged that Low is living under a false identity – Constantinos Achilles Veis – and using a fake Australian passport while working with entities linked to the Chinese government. Penang-born Low is accused of masterminding the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal and has been on the run since 2015, with his exact whereabouts remaining unconfirmed to date.
Borneo Post
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Jho Low in Shanghai under alias? Anwar says he's read the news, will check with Home Ministry
Anwar affirmed that he had read about Low's latest purported sighting that has generated global buzz since yesterday. – Bernama photo GEORGE TOWN (July 19): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said he will verify with the Home Ministry following reports that wanted businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is currently living the high life in China. Anwar affirmed that he had read about Low's latest purported sighting that has generated global buzz since yesterday. 'We have yet to get any information. Let me check,' he was quoted by the New Straits Times as telling reporters after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kompleks Madani Teluk Kumbar in Penang. 'I will need to check with the home minister about it,' he added, referring to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Former Wall Street Journal journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright who authored a best selling book titled Billion Dollar Whale claimed in a livestream yesterday that Low is residing in Green Hills, a luxury enclave in Shanghai. They alleged that Low is living under a false identity – Constantinos Achilles Veis – and using a fake Australian passport while working with entities linked to the Chinese government. Penang-born Low is accused of masterminding the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal and has been on the run since 2015, with his exact whereabouts remaining unconfirmed to date. – Malay Mail anwar ibrahim China Jho Low
Daily Express
19-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Jho Low allegedly found living under alias in Shanghai luxury enclave
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: Fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho ( pic ), better known as Jho Low, has supposedly been located in a luxury neighbourhood in Shanghai, China, where he is said to be living under a false identity and working with entities linked to the Chinese government. Former Wall Street Journal reporters Bradley Hope and Tom Wright — who broke key details of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal and co-authored Billion Dollar Whale — claimed that Low is now residing in Green Hills, an exclusive enclave in Shanghai. Advertisement The duo made the claims during a live stream titled Finding Jho Low, hosted yesterday by their investigative platform, Project Brazen. They alleged that Low is using the alias Constantinos Achilles Veis and carrying a fake Australian passport, which allows him to travel within China while concealing his identity. 'Jho Low is now a behind-the-scenes strategist for the Chinese government,' Hope said. They added that Low's alleged responsibilities include 'helping sanctioned Chinese companies navigate difficulties around the world.' Low is the alleged mastermind behind the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, in which at least US$4.5 billion (approximately RM19 billion) was misappropriated from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The US Department of Justice has previously stated that the stolen funds were used to acquire luxury real estate in the US, a private jet, a superyacht, high-value artworks, and to finance the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street. Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the film, publicly thanked Low by name during his 2014 Golden Globe Awards acceptance speech. In 2016, US authorities moved to seize assets linked to the film's production, alleging it was funded with embezzled Malaysian money. Low has been on the run since 2015, after international investigations into 1MDB intensified. His whereabouts have remained unknown since, with occasional speculation but no confirmed sightings. Hope and Wright's latest claims represent the most detailed account of Low's location and activities in years. However, there has been no official confirmation from Chinese or Malaysian authorities at the time of writing. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
