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Malaysia PM says not opposed to fugitive financier's bid for pardon
The request comes as Malaysia tries to recover more than $4.5 billion linked to the 1MDB scandal, officials said.
On Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will not oppose a pardon request from President Donald Trump filed recently by Low Taek Jho to potentially wipe away US criminal charges.
Former prime minister Najib Razak launched the 1MDB state investment fund in 2009, from which more than $4.5 billion was allegedly diverted between 2009 and 2015; Najib has been jailed and fined $2.8 billion.
According to the US Justice Department website, Jho Low is formally seeking a "Pardon after Completion of Sentence," though he remains at large despite being indicted in the United States.
Trade Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said Wednesday the plea should be rejected and Low returned for trial, yet Anwar described the pardon bid as a "non-issue" during a visit to Seremban.
Malaysia unsuccessfully sought extradition for Low, with media speculating he is hiding in China, while the government focuses on recovering stolen assets to maintain its post-2018 anti-corruption reset momentum.