A Malaysian official signaled that the new government is homing in on Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB corruption scandal who remains AWOL.

He has remained elusive even as Malaysia's former prime minister, Najib Razak, as well as his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were charged with multiple corruption counts over the 1MDB scandal: Jho Low.

As Low's world crashes around him – his $250 million yacht was recently put up for auction, and other luxury assets like a private jet and U.S. real estate have been seized – the only sign of the 36-year-old Malaysian businessman is a personal website.

There, he pleads innocence in the $4.5 billion graft scandal, billing himself a «global philanthropist, investor, and entrepreneur who has been identified by various parties as a figure in what has become known as the 1MDB saga.»

Avoiding Detection

If Malaysia has its way, that may change soon: Interior Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told lawmakers in Kuala Lumpur that the government is undertaking renewed efforts to extradite Low back to Malaysia.

«[We are looking at] ways to get the cooperation of certain parties in the country where he is,»Muhyiddin was quoted on «Channel News Asia». «It is said that he is moving from place to place in order to avoid detection.»

Before his yacht, the Equanimity, was impounded by authorities, Low had been cruising Southeast Asia. Since then, speculation has surfaced that Low is holed up in either Dubai or China, after new Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad suggested so. His government's harder line towards the Chinese government may encumber efforts for cooperating on Low's extradition.

Walked Out on Questions

The renewed efforts to find Low and bring him to justice in Malaysia comes as ex-PM Najib faces a total of 32 charges over 1MDB, including money-laundering, breach of power, and abuse of trust.

His wife, long viewed as ostentatious in Malaysia for carrying a series of designer Birkin handbags as well as opulent jewelry, faces 17 counts. Both have proclaimed their innocence.

Najib has frequently sat for interviews, but recently walked out on an investigative broadcast by «Al Jazeera» when he was repeatedly pressed on the last time he had spoken to Low.