A documentary centering on Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fraud, has begun production in London.
The documentary, titled “Man on the Run,” will shine a light on the life of the now 40-year-old Low, from his growing up in a rich family on Penang Island in Malaysia to his studies in elite schools, such as Harrow School in London and the Wharton School of Business in the United States, to his Hollywood connections and the 1MDB scandal, according to Deadline.
Directed by Cassius Michael Kim (“The Wonder List with Bill Weir”), “Man on the Run” will reportedly film in several major cities around the world, including New York, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Los Angeles.
“With the benefit of hindsight, we’ll examine the full scope of impact for one of the largest known financial scandals in history,” Kim said. “Through interviews with previously unheard sources and original reporting, our film will be the definitive accounting of this saga as well as an indictment of the global capitalist system and its inability to regulate itself in the face of avarice and corruption.”
Malaysian authorities believe Low was the mastermind behind the siphoning of around $4.5 billion of the state’s development fund. One of the names mentioned in the list of high officials and co-conspirators behind the 1MDB scandal was former prime minister Najib Razak, who co-founded the company in 2009.
The company was set up in 2009 as a Malaysian state fund that “promoted development through foreign investment and partnerships.” The scandal reportedly ran between 2009 and 2012 until reaching public view in 2015 when someone leaked a document detailing the fraud to the media.
Low has been on the run since, with some reports suggesting he now resides in China. The United States government and Malaysian government charged the financier for conspiring to launder billions of dollars.
“Man on the Run” will also delve into Low’s glamorous lifestyle, which included partying with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx.
In 2014, Low allegedly gave his ex-girlfriend, supermodel Miranda Kerr, at least $9.9 million worth of jewelry. The Malaysian tycoon also purportedly gave Kim Kardashian a $325,000 white Ferrari as a gift for her wedding with Kris Humphries in 2011.
Low has been the subject of many films and documentaries, including “The Kleptocrats” and the forthcoming “Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World,” which is being produced by “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon.
An official release date for “Man on the Run” has not yet been announced.
Feature via Al Jazeera English
