Fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low seeks Trump pardon for 1MDB case: Reports
The request was filed in recent weeks, said a Wall Street Journal report, citing people familiar with the matter, and if granted would remove United States criminal charges against him.
Malaysian fugitive financier Jho Low. (File photo: AFP/Dimitrios Kambouris)
WASHINGTON: Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, widely known as Jho Low and now a fugitive, has sought a pardon from United States (US) President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Tuesday (May 12).
The request was filed in recent weeks, the WSJ report said, citing people familiar with the matter, and if granted would remove US criminal charges against him.
A Justice Department website lists a pending request for a "Pardon after Completion of Sentence" under Taek Jho Low that was filed this year, the report said.
A White House official said Low's request was not currently on the White House's radar, WSJ added.
Bloomberg on Wednesday also reported on Low's pardon bid, citing the notice on the Justice Department website. Bloomberg said that a spokesman for the Brooklyn US Attorney's Office, which prosecuted the 1MDB case, did not immediately respond to its queries.
Low is accused of being the architect behind the siphoning of US$4.5 billion from Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB in a globe-spanning scheme between 2009 and 2014.
Johari Abdul Ghani, the chairman of a Malaysian taskforce seeking to recover funds and assets linked to 1MDB worldwide, said Low's request for pardon should be denied and the US should instead assist Malaysia in locating Low for further investigations.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm against the pardon," Johari, who is also trade minister, said in a text message to Reuters on Wednesday when asked about the WSJ report.
Johari added he was unaware of any talks between Low and Malaysia to return assets.
The WSJ reported that Malaysia had temporarily lifted an Interpol red notice against Low that would make him subject to arrest almost anywhere in the world to facilitate the return of significant assets to the country.
In 2019, the US struck a deal to recoup about US$1 billion from Low, with the fugitive agreeing to give up a private jet and high-end real estate in Beverly Hills, New York and London among other assets.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in 2023 the government was negotiating with other countries to speed up Low's return, though he declined to name the nations involved.
Low had helped former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak set up 1MDB to promote economic development.
Najib was jailed in 2022 after being found guilty of 1MDB-linked corruption and money laundering.
