The Deal Between Jho Low and the U.S Changes the Narrative Completely

The 1MDB scandal has been haunting the international economic community now for years with the name Jho Low at the forefront. The young Chinese Malaysian fugitive has always been painted as the 'mastermind' of the entire scandal and getting him back to Malaysia to 'face justice' has always been the Malaysian government's number one agenda.

However, breaking news may have just changed this entire narrative- drastically.

The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement with Low that has not only absolved him of guilt but has assisted in recouping almost a billion dollars of the that was lost to the 1MDB investment fund. This news may sound out-of-the-blue; however, sources say it comes after a multiyear collaborative effort between financier and the U.S.

The deal is groundbreaking for several reasons and could be a huge step forward for both Malaysia and the U.S. in finally putting an end to the 1MDB fiasco that has taken up too much time and resources.

It shows a major accomplishment for the United States Justice Department as it is both a practical and smart move in achieving maximum benefit for the government with minimum risk. Without this deal, the forfeit case tied to Low could result in assets falling into legal limbo, major legal costs, and uncertainty of extended litigation that would be draining on all sides.

Malaysia too will greatly benefit by the funds that will be repatriated from the asset recovery resulting from this deal. As a country facing debt and a fragile economy, this would be highly valuable. The deal between Low and the U.S. could also filter into more resources and more information that would help in the ongoing prosecution of Najib Razak which has been endless and over-complicated thus far.

But what does it mean for the infamous Jho Low? Following this deal, he has been granted asylum in multiple countries besides the U.S.

This poses a question for the Malaysian government- seeing as though they have already secured both Jho Low and his family's assets, and considering the fact that he has been pronounced guilt free by the U.S., should the witch hunt continue?

It may be wise to respect the deal settled between the Justice Department and Low and put an end to a waste of time and energy when there are so many pressing problems facing the country.