Jho Low, Chen Zhi: Two fugitives, two ecosystems

THE region’s headline-grabbing fugitives, Chen Zhi and Jho Low, represent distinct strands of the South-east Asian illicit funds story, but strip away the mind-boggling digits and complex manoeuvres, and the truth remains: opportunity outpaced oversight.

Both men exploited systemic gaps. Both are linked to staggering sums of dirty money and powerful political allies. And now, both are on the run.

China-born Cambodian Chen, 38, grew out of Cambodia’s patronage networks and the underbelly of the region’s digital scam economy. His alleged empire veers into brutal territory, on a business model allegedly built not just on financial fraud, but also on forced labour and modern-day slavery.