DistantNews
Support us
Jho Low, luxury spender and 1MDB scandal mastermind, reportedly hiding in Shanghai
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Switzerland /Crime & Justice

Jho Low, luxury spender and 1MDB scandal mastermind, reportedly hiding in Shanghai

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Jho Low, a Malaysian financier, is believed to be hiding in Shanghai under a false identity more than a decade after disappearing.
  • He is considered the mastermind behind the massive fraud at Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, from which an estimated $1.4 billion was kept for himself.
  • The 1MDB scandal, described as the largest case of kleptocracy, involves shell companies and complex financial schemes.

Jho Low, the Malaysian financier implicated as the architect of the colossal 1MDB scandal, is reportedly living under an assumed name in a wealthy Shanghai neighborhood. More than ten years after vanishing from public view, Low remains an elusive figure, believed to be using the identity Constantinos Achilles Veis and a forged passport.

He is accused of masterminding the massive fraud that saw $4.5 billion disappear from Malaysia's public investment fund between 2009 and 2015. U.S. prosecutors allege that Low personally secured at least $1.4 billion of these funds through shell companies and intricate financial maneuvers, though the exact amount he retained is still debated.

The 1MDB scandal has been characterized as the most significant instance of kleptocracy to date. A crucial aspect of this case is currently unfolding in Bellinzona, Switzerland. The article notes that a significant portion of the reporting is reserved for subscribers, highlighting the ongoing financial and legal complexities surrounding the case.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.