By S. Jayasankaran
He’s been variously described as Malaysia’s “fugitive financier” — the ‘mastermind behind 1MDB’s looting” or, simply, the ‘fat fraudster.’
In 2016, news emerged that the country’s sovereign wealth fund, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), had been defrauded to the tune of billions of dollars.
It took a lost election to bring Premier Jibby to justice, and he is currently in prison, although he is trying all manner of means to stay out.
Jibby’s co-conspirator, “Fatso” JL, is, however, on the run.
Often featured as a beaming, tuxedo-clad guest at champagne-swilling parties in Hollywood before the news broke, the ample architect of the world’s biggest heist is now wanted in four countries, including Malaysia and the US.
This happened after the bulky bandit stole over RM18 billion from the Malaysian government and skipped town without so much as a fare-thee-well.
Jibby was above the law until 2018, when he suddenly wasn’t. Fatso, however, reckoned that discretion was the better part of valour and so never returned to Malaysia until he stole away for good.
He was never caught and does not intend to be.
“Oh no!” cried The Bulk jovially. “Not by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!”And you can imagine there must have been a great many, as the man was generously endowed with a multitude of chins.
Fatso was snug as a bug in a rug because he was allegedly afforded protection by the country he had escaped to, which routinely shot its own corrupt officials but tolerantly afforded protection to foreign thieves it deemed “heroically” corrupt.
The tubby thief had, apparently, more than met his hideout’s strict criteria governing “heroic” corruption.
No wonder. Fatty had tried to curry favour with the US Department of Justice by returning assets worth US$700 million – they would have been seized anyway. In total, the US recovered US$800 million from the plump pilferer.
But he still had over US$3 billion and change, an amount that helped generate enough goodwill with some mandarins to ensure safe harbour.
It certainly bought a lot of asylum. According to news reports, Malaysia’s ‘Sultan of Scam’ travels freely about in that huge country.
It appears that Fatso may be yearning for the light and excitement of the United States. An alumnus of his American alma mater – the Wharton School of Finance – currently occupies the White House.
Better yet, the said occupant likes doing business. To-date, he’s pardoned 1,600 people convicted of federal crimes.
More to the point, the man isn’t averse to enriching his family.
According to various US news reports, the net worth of the T Family is estimated to have increased by over US$9.5 billion from the time its patriarch took office in January 2025.
The wealth effect has taken place in various ways, from outright foreign gifts to cryptocurrency ventures.
Unsurprisingly, we now read that our own Felonious has officially requested a pardon from the White House.
Will it fly?
A White House official told The Wall Street Journal that Fatso’s request for a pardon wasn’t “on the radar” of The Chief and his advisers.
Not now, at least.
And you should never say never.
The views expressed here are entirely those of the author
WE