Cover image via Brazen (YouTube)
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Malaysian fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, is allegedly living in a luxury neighbourhood in China under the alias 'Constantinos Achilles Veis', according to investigative journalists
In a live video podcast aired on YouTube on July 18, Billion Dollar Whale authors Tom Wright and Bradley Hope — former Wall Street Journal reporters who were among the first to expose the 1MDB scandal — unveiled new details about the elusive Low, including his alleged whereabouts and current activities.
The podcast featured discussions with former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and ex-FBI agents Bill McMurray and Robert Heikling, who led the 1MDB investigation.
The podcast presented a mix of new and previously reported information, and some of the most sensitive revelations were based on documents and sources whose identities are being withheld for safety reasons.
Here are 10 key takeaways from the podcast:
1. Najib allegedly advised Low to flee to China
At the 1:17:29-minute mark of the podcast, Wright claimed that then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak advised Low to leave Malaysia to avoid scrutiny.
It is alluded that Low chose to flee to China due to familial connections in Chiuchow (also known as Chaozhou).
Tom Wright speaking in the podcast.
Image via Brazen (YouTube)2. Low allegedly spent his early days in China cultivating political connections
Citing new documents, Hope alleged that Jho Low was initially not well-connected upon his arrival in China.
The journalists claimed to have accessed Low's Google search history from that period, showing he was actively researching Chinese political figures to identify potential allies.
"He was literally going through searching all of the political figures and trying to understand who's who here: 'Who can I connect myself with?'
"That's what led to, what Tom had described before, him playing this role of essentially becoming this kind of shadow broker between China and Malaysia, and to shift Malaysia away from the US and towards China in exchange for money," Hope claimed.
Bradley Hope speaking in the podcast.
Image via Brazen (YouTube)3. Low allegedly forged new corrupt deals in China
Leveraging billions of stolen dollars, Wright claimed that Low corrupted high-ranking Chinese officials, including Sun Lijun, then head of domestic security, and a trade minister.
Low allegedly continued orchestrating corrupt infrastructure deals, including inflating costs for the East Coast Rail Link, to siphon funds and cover shortfalls from the original 1MDB fraud.
According to AP News, Sun was sentenced to death in September 2022 for manipulating the stock market, taking bribes, and other offences, in a case that involved at least two former Cabinet officials.
Wright noted that although the Chinese government did not explicitly link Sun's offences to Low, Sun was still arrested and convicted for corruption.
China's former vice public security minister Sun Lijun.
Image via Cai Xing Global4. Malaysia allegedly lost USD6 billion in Belt and Road deals involving Low
According to Hope, the Malaysian government lost USD6 billion (about RM25 billion) in the Belt and Road-related deals facilitated by Low.
"That's almost the same amount that they lost in the 1MDB stolen money phase. And that's both money that's gone missing and money that's like penalties related to this Belt and Road deal.
"That's why Jho has more money than people even think and more power and more influence, and he's become this powerful person in China," he claimed.
Hope did not present any documents to support his allegation of billion-dollar losses.
5. A 2019 Disneyland photo helped identify Low's entourage
Hope said a photo of Low taken at Shanghai Disneyland in 2019 during the first 'Where is Jho?' campaign was crucial in identifying his inner circle.
In the image, Low was seated with several individuals, some of whom were later recognised as his "minders", suggesting he was already under unofficial Chinese protection.
At the time, Wright added, Low was also said to maintain an office at the Shanghai World Financial Center.
Jho Low photographed at Shanghai Disneyland in 2019.
Image via @TomWrightAsia (X)6. Low now allegedly goes by 'Constantinos'
At the 1:29:55-minute mark of the podcast, Hope revealed what he claimed was a photo of Low's fake Australian passport, in which he uses the Greek name 'Constantinos Achilles Veis'.
Hope said the passport is believed to feature the most up-to-date image of Low.
7. Low allegedly uses the fake passport to move around undetected
Both Wright and Hope said Low uses the forged passport to check into hotels, travel within China, and possibly open bank accounts — all to operate discreetly and avoid leaving a paper trail.
8. Low is allegedly living a lavish and unrestricted life in Shanghai
Despite speculation that he may be under house arrest, Hope claimed Low is living freely with his family in Shanghai's upscale Green Hills neighbourhood, an area known for its American-style homes and popular among expatriates.
Properties there reportedly command monthly rents of around 70,000 yuan (about RM40,000). Hope also alleged that Low drives luxury cars, including Bugattis.
A stillshot from a promotional video showcasing a property in Green Hills, Shanghai. Image used for illustration purposes only.
Image via Brazen (YouTube)9. He is allegedly guarded by Chinese security personnel
"Everywhere he goes, he's followed by at least two Chinese security guards who appear to be government employees," Hope said.
This arrangement, he added, suggests that Low enjoys a high level of freedom and protection, further supporting claims that he is not under house arrest.
10. Low is seen as "indispensable" to China
Despite his fugitive status, the journalists claimed Low has made himself "indispensable" to the Chinese government and Chinese businesses, serving as a "dark arts coordinator" for China.
"He has become a kind of advisor working for the Chinese government with special situations.
"Among those situations are major Chinese companies that are dealing with the US government problems.
"And it's kind of surreal to think about this, but Jho has developed a kind of reputation within China as a strategist or a problem solver when it comes to the US government because he has this sort of lobbying network," Hope said.
