Two former reporters claim fugitive financier Jho Low – central to the 1MDB scandal – has been located living in Shanghai under an assumed name using a forged Australian passport.

In a recent livestream titled Finding Jho Low, investigative journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright – co-authors of Billion Dollar Whale and among the first to expose the 1MDB scandal – claimed they have tracked down Jho Low’s whereabouts. According to the pair, Low is residing in Shanghai’s affluent Green Hills neighbourhood under the alias Constantinos Achilles Veis, travelling on a fraudulent Australian passport.

The duo allege that Low continues to enjoy a lavish lifestyle in China, reportedly protected by local security personnel and moving freely thanks to his assumed identity. Domestic travel within China is allegedly facilitated by the forged document, which lists the name of a real Greek-Australian man who passed away in 2012. Low has been on the run since 2015.

Hope further stated that Low has taken on the role of a behind-the-scenes adviser for Beijing, purportedly helping sanctioned Chinese companies navigate international economic pressures.

Despite years of effort by Malaysian authorities, international investigators, and Interpol red notices, Jho Low has remained an elusive figure, slipping through diplomatic cracks and jurisdictional gaps. His exact whereabouts have long been a mystery – subject to rumours, unconfirmed sightings, and dead ends. That two independent Australian journalists may now have succeeded in locating the fugitive financier, reportedly hiding in plain sight in Shanghai under a new name and identity, raises serious questions about the efficacy of the official pursuit. It’s a revelation that suggests persistence, press freedom, and perhaps a dash of audacity may have gone further than many years of fruitless government-led efforts.

A QUICK 1MDB REFRESHER

At the heart of Jho Low’s notoriety is the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal. Founded in 2009 by then–Prime Minister Najib Razak, 1MDB was meant to be a strategic development fund to boost Malaysia’s economy. Instead, it became the centre of one of the world’s biggest financial scandals.

Investigators uncovered that at least US$4.5 billion was siphoned from 1MDB through shell companies, fake deals, and offshore accounts. The stolen funds were used to purchase luxury property, finance Hollywood films like The Wolf of Wall Street, and bankroll extravagant lifestyles.

Low was soon identified as a central figure in the scheme and has been wanted by Malaysian, US, and Singaporean authorities for years. An Interpol red notice was issued in 2018, but despite efforts to track him down, his whereabouts have remained unclear – until now.

REACTIONS FROM MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that while the government has seen media reports about Low’s alleged location, no official confirmation has been received. Malaysian authorities are said to be waiting on verification from the Home Ministry and foreign counterparts.

Meanwhile, Australian media have raised serious questions about the use of a falsified passport. Under Australian law, such forgery is a serious offence, carrying fines of up to AUD 330,000 or up to 10 years in prison.

Despite the growing buzz around these revelations, no confirmation has yet come from Chinese officials, and it remains unclear whether formal extradition or investigation efforts will be initiated.