The Edge Malaysia reported that Jho Low, in a statement of defence, said the October 2019 settlement with the US Department of Justice did not constitute an admission of guilt or any wrongdoing.

Why this label

The Edge Malaysia reported Low's statement of defence saying the 2019 settlement did not constitute an admission of guilt or wrongdoing^S7. The DOJ release of 30 October 2019 supports the narrow point. It says a civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation^S3. A civil settlement is not a criminal finding. That part of Low's statement holds. But the same release says the agreement does not release any person from filed or potential criminal charges and that Low separately faces charges in New York^S3. So the wider framing that he is absolved of wrongdoing goes beyond the record. The claim is partly supported.

Current procedural position

Civil settlement announced 30 October 2019 to forfeit assets worth more than US$700 million. It did not resolve the separate criminal charges, which remain open as of October 2026^S3.

Evidence score: 62 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

Timeline

1. 28 JanuaryLow statement of defence reported, year not shown^S7
2. 30 October 2019DOJ settlement to forfeit assets over US$700 million^S3

Related cases

• United States v. assets traceable to 1MDB (in rem)US District Court for the Central District of California. Civil. Not published on the releases we read.Stage: Low related assets resolved by the October 2019 settlement^S3
  • 20 July 2016 Civil forfeiture complaints filed seeking over US$1 billion^S1
  • 30 October 2019 Settlement to forfeit assets worth more than US$700 million^S3
• United States v. Low Taek Jho and Ng Chong HwaUS District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Criminal. Not published on the release we read.Stage: Charges against Low pending, Low at large as of October 2026^S2
  • 1 November 2018 Indictment of Low and Ng announced^S2

Revision history

• 25 October 2026 Assessment first published with label Partly supported.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

1. S7Tier C Jho Low claims he is absolved of wrongdoing in 1MDB after resolution with US DOJThe Edge Malaysia. Press report. 28 January (year not shown on page).The Edge Malaysia report on Low's statement of defence. Origin for his claim that the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing. Press account only.
2. S3Tier A United States Reaches Settlement to Recover More Than $700 Million in Assets Allegedly Traceable to Corruption Involving Malaysian Sovereign Wealth FundUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Government press release. 30 October 2019.DOJ release on the 30 October 2019 settlement to forfeit assets worth more than US$700 million. Supports that the civil case is not a criminal finding and that charges remain open.
3. S2Tier A Malaysian Financier Low Taek Jho, AKA Jho Low, and Former Banker Ng Chong Hwa, AKA Roger Ng, Indicted for Conspiring to Launder Billions of Dollars in Illegal ProceedsUS Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York. Government press release. 1 November 2018.DOJ release announcing the 1 November 2018 indictment of Low and Ng. Supports the charge and that Low is at large. An indictment is an allegation.
4. S1Tier A United States Seeks to Recover More Than $1 Billion Obtained from Corruption Involving Malaysian Sovereign Wealth FundUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Government press release. 20 July 2016.DOJ press release on the July 2016 civil forfeiture complaints. Supports the amount sought and the misappropriation figure. These are allegations, not findings.

Other claims about 1Malaysia Development Berhad

• Supported84
  The US Department of Justice said in July 2016 that it was seeking to recover more than US$1 billion in assets it alleged were traceable to the misappropriation of more than US$3.5 billion from 1MDB.
  Regulator statement, 20 July 20163 records citedMoney laundering
• Unresolved77
  The US Department of Justice announced on 1 November 2018 that Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, was indicted for conspiring to launder billions of dollars embezzled from 1MDB and that he remained at large.
  Regulator statement, 1 November 20183 records citedMoney laundering
• Supported79
  The Federal Court of Malaysia on 23 August 2022 unanimously upheld the conviction and 12 year jail sentence of former prime minister Najib Razak in the SRC International case.
  Press report, 23 August 20226 records citedMoney laundering