Jho Low Seeks Trump Pardon in 1MDB Case

Fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low and accused of orchestrating the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, has filed a request for a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump in recent weeks. The U.S. Justice Department website lists a pending application under his name for a "Pardon after Completion of Sentence," filed this year.

Low faces U.S. criminal charges related to the alleged misappropriation of more than $4.5 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a state investment fund established by then-Prime Minister Najib Razak's government in 2009. Prosecutors claim Low and associates used shell companies to siphon funds, which financed luxury purchases including real estate, artwork, a $250 million superyacht, and access to entertainment industry figures. Low has denied any wrongdoing.

The scandal contributed to Najib's downfall. He was convicted in 2020 of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering for receiving about $10 million from a 1MDB unit, receiving a 12-year sentence upheld in 2022. In December, he received an additional 15-year term in a related trial. Investigations continue in multiple countries, including...