Leissner filed his pardon application to the US Justice Department last year, according to a notice on the DOJ website. Leissner, Goldman’s former Southeast Asia chairman, pleaded guilty in 2018 to engaging in a scheme to embezzle US$4.5 billion from Malaysian fund 1MDB. Goldman also sued Leissner, saying in a letter to the court it is trying to recoup at least US$20.7 million it paid Leissner while he was working on 1MDB transactions. Jho LowThe 1MDB fraud toppled the Malaysian government and led to investigations in six countries. In December, the Malaysian government announced it was seeking Leissner’s extradition for crimes related to the 1MDB fraud.

Source: The Edge Markets January 22, 2026 23:21 UTC