Jho Low seeks Trump pardon over US charges tied to multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal

UNITED STATES: Low Taek Jho, widely known as Jho Low and regarded by US authorities as the alleged architect behind the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, has formally requested a pardon from US President Donald Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on 13 May 2026.

The publication, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the appeal was submitted in recent weeks and, if granted, would remove the criminal charges filed against the fugitive Malaysian financier in the United States.

A notice published on the US Department of Justice (DOJ) website confirmed that an application under the name “Taek Jho Low” had been filed this year seeking a “Pardon after Completion of Sentence”.

The status of the application was listed as “pending”, although no additional details were disclosed.

Low was charged by US authorities in 2018 but has remained a fugitive and has evaded arrest for years.

US prosecutors accused him of orchestrating one of the world’s largest financial fraud schemes involving Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB.

According to US allegations, at least US$4.5 billion was siphoned from the state investment fund through a network of fraudulent transactions, shell companies and offshore accounts.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Low, together with two former Goldman Sachs Group bankers, arranged approximately US$2 billion in bribes to foreign officials.

The alleged recipients included former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was later convicted and imprisoned in Malaysia over cases linked to the 1MDB scandal.

US officials also alleged that another US$1 billion in kickbacks was distributed among participants involved in the scheme.

According to court filings and prosecutors’ allegations, Low personally received at least US$1.42 billion from the operation.

Fallout from the 1MDB scandal

The 1MDB scandal became one of the most significant political crises in Malaysia’s modern history.

Public anger surrounding the controversy contributed heavily to the collapse of Barisan Nasional (BN) during Malaysia’s 2018 General Election, known as GE14.

The defeat ended BN’s uninterrupted 61-year rule since Malaysia gained independence.

The scandal also severely damaged public trust among Malay voters, traditionally regarded as BN’s core support base, with many shifting their backing to the opposition coalition.

The fallout extended internationally and triggered multiple criminal investigations and prosecutions across several jurisdictions.

Goldman Sachs eventually agreed to pay more than US$5 billion to settle misconduct claims linked to the activities of former bankers involved in the scandal.

Testimony links Low to Trump discussions

One of the former Goldman Sachs bankers implicated in the case, Tim Leissner, pleaded guilty in the United States and later testified during the 2022 trial of former colleague Roger Ng.

Ng was subsequently convicted over his role connected to the 1MDB scandal.

During his testimony, Leissner told jurors that Low had assured him then-President Trump was directly involved in discussions aimed at resolving the US criminal investigation into 1MDB.

Leissner testified that Low claimed he had discussed the matter with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a senior White House adviser at the time.

According to Leissner’s testimony, Low allegedly said there was support for a deal that would allow both Low and Leissner to avoid criminal prosecution related to their dealings involving 1MDB.

No public evidence was presented in court showing that such an agreement was ever reached.

A spokesperson for the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office, which handled prosecutions linked to the 1MDB case, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to reports.

Leissner himself also sought a pardon in 2025.

He was ordered to begin serving a two-year prison sentence in February 2026 for his role in the fraud scheme.