The alleged mastermind behind Malaysia’s multibillion-dollar 1MDB corruption scandal, Jho Low, is reportedly living in China under a forged Australian passport and a Greek alias, according to a new investigation by Brazen, a media outlet co-founded by former Wall Street Journal reporters.
As reported by the ABC, Low is believed to be residing in an upscale Shanghai neighbourhood, using the name Constantinos Achilles Veis.
The financier has long been wanted by Malaysian, American, and Singaporean authorities for his role in embezzling approximately $US4.5 billion ($6.8 billion) from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a sovereign wealth fund established by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Najib, who was found guilty of corruption and money laundering in connection with the scandal, has been imprisoned since 2022. Investigators say Low played a central role in orchestrating the global scheme, which saw public funds diverted through a network of offshore accounts and shell companies.
While Low has maintained his innocence, several of his citizenships, including those of Cyprus and St Kitts and Nevis have been revoked in recent years.
In response to Brazen’s findings, current Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had not received official confirmation that Low is in China. “I have no information… Let me check,” he told national news agency Bernama.
Despite a 2019 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to recover around $US1 billion, American authorities continue to seek Low for prosecution. The superyacht Equanimity, allegedly purchased with stolen funds, was seized in Indonesia in 2018 and later sold for $US126 million, with proceeds returned to the Malaysian government.
The use of forged Australian passports has previously drawn international concern. In 2010, Australia expelled an Israeli diplomat after Mossad operatives used fake Australian documents in a covert assassination in Dubai. In 2023, DFAT introduced the enhanced R Series passport, aimed at making such forgeries more difficult.
