Fugitive Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, should not be granted a pardon over his alleged role in the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, according to 1MDB Task Force chairman Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Johari’s remarks came after a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report claimed that Jho Low had recently sought a pardon from United States President Donald Trump.
The 1MDB Task Force, led by Johari, was established to recover funds and assets linked to the state investment fund from around the world.
Johari said any request for clemency should be rejected, adding that the United States should instead assist Malaysia in locating Jho Low for further investigation.
“As far as I’m concerned, I oppose the pardon,” said Johari, who is also the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), in a text message response regarding the WSJ report.
He also said he was unaware of any negotiations between Jho Low and the Malaysian government involving the return of assets.
Jho Low faces multiple charges in both Malaysia and the United States, including money laundering and corruption allegations linked to the alleged misappropriation of at least US$4.5 billion from 1MDB.
According to the WSJ report, Jho Low recently submitted a pardon application that, if approved, could potentially remove criminal charges against him in the US.
The report also stated that the US Department of Justice website lists a pending application under the name Taek Jho Low, categorised as a “Pardon after Completion of Sentence” filed this year.
Despite being charged in the United States, Jho Low has consistently denied wrongdoing and remains at large.
The 1MDB fund was launched in 2009 by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shortly after he took office.
Authorities alleged that more than US$4.5 billion was siphoned from the fund between 2009 and 2015 by officials and their associates, including Jho Low.
Najib has since been convicted in several cases related to the scandal and sentenced to prison, while his defence team has repeatedly described Jho Low as the mastermind behind the financial scandal.
Malaysia has previously failed in efforts to extradite Jho Low, while speculation has persisted that he may be hiding in China.
The scandal triggered major political fallout in Malaysia, contributing to the collapse of the long-ruling government in 2018 and leading to convictions involving former Goldman Sachs bankers.
