Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low has reportedly submitted a pardon application to US President Donald Trump, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The application is believed to have been filed in the past few weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter.
If approved, the pardon could potentially drop all criminal charges facing Jho Low in the United States. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) website also reportedly lists an application that is still in process under the name Taek Jho Low.
According to the report, the application is categorized as a "Pardon after Completion of Sentence" and was filed this year. However, Reuters reported that the report has not yet been independently verified.
A White House official also reportedly said that the application has not yet been the main focus of the US administration. Jho Low was previously an international fugitive following his alleged involvement in the 1MDB fund embezzlement scandal.
The DOJ investigation alleges that more than US$4.5 billion was embezzled from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014. Since 2018, Jho Low has been listed on the International Police Red Notice (INTERPOL).
Various international media reports have previously claimed that he has been spotted in Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Myanmar. However, to date, Jho Low's exact location has not been ascertained, while Malaysian authorities continue to make efforts to track him down.
