KUALA LUMPUR: Journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope have posted pictures of what appear to be fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho to substantiate allegations that Malaysia's most-wanted fugitive is hiding in China.
Wright, who co-authored "The Billion Dollar Whale" based on the flamboyant Jho Low, who is facing multibillion-dollar charges related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in the United States and Malaysia, posted the pictures they received on Twitter today.
"We reveal new photos of Jho Low in Macau with his Chinese handler (second from right). We also put out a wanted poster in Chinese, and explain how he really stole US$8 billion."
Prior to this, the duo revealed that Jho Low was spotted in Shanghai Disneyland.
Hope said besides Jho Low, there were three individuals suspected of being his assistants at the shopping mall, with one of them allegedly being a Chinese spy who was in charge of Jho Low's security.
They produced several posters, and one of them displayed the man's face in the form of a caricature and Chinese writing.
"Our theory is that the Chinese people will sympathise with the Malaysian people and the idea that one of the most infamous fugitives from their country is living in China," said Hope.
As a result, he said, they were seeking assistance to better understand who Jho Low is and where he is in China.
"This project is not to facilitate the arrest of citizens, but to clarify how individuals on the run who have (stolen money) worth billions can live in neighbouring countries and live freely," he said.
He was referring to Project Brazen, which was set up to find the fugitive. It is understood that at least US$4.5 billion was embezzled from the 1MDB fund by Jho Low, several high-level officials who managed the fund, and their associates.