Government to discuss reports of Jho Low’s alleged us pardon bid next week - Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR - The Cabinet is expected to discuss reports concerning fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho’s alleged application for a pardon from the United States (US) authorities at next week’s meeting.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the issue surfaced while the Cabinet meeting was in progress today and was therefore not formally discussed.

"… however, it will certainly be brought to the attention of the Cabinet next week,” he told a weekly press conference at Angkasapuri here today.

Fahmi, who is also the Madani Government spokesperson, was responding to questions on reports that Low, better known as Jho Low, had allegedly sought a pardon from US President Donald Trump, and whether the government planned to make any formal representation to the US authorities opposing such a move.

On whether the Malaysian government had received any formal notification from the US authorities regarding the alleged pardon request, he said the matter was not discussed during today’s Cabinet meeting.

"I would like to ask members of the media to refer the matter either to the Home Minister or the Foreign Minister,” he said.

International media reported that Jho Low, the fugitive Malaysian financier accused by the US of masterminding one of the largest financial frauds in history, had sought a pardon from Trump.

Low, who was charged in 2018 but has evaded arrest, submitted a pardon application to the US Justice Department this year, according to a notice on the US Department of Justice's (Doj) website.

He was accused of being the architect of a scheme that siphoned at least US$4.5 billion from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

According to the DOJ website, the request for "Taek Jho Low” is to seek a "Pardon after Completion of Sentence”, with the status of his request listed as "pending”. - BERNAMA