Ex-Goldman Banker Seeks Pardon in 1MDB Fraud Case (Correct)

Jan. 22, 2026, 9:39 PM UTC

Tim Leissner, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker who admitted his role in one of the largest financial frauds in history, is seeking a presidential pardon before he surrenders to a federal prison.

Leissner filed his pardon application to the US Justice Department last year, according to a notice on the DOJ website. It was submitted between Sept. 3 and Nov. 18, according to archived copies posted on lawyeroyer.com.

Leissner, Goldman’s former Southeast Asia chairman, pleaded guilty in 2018 to engaging in a scheme to embezzle $4.5 billion from Malaysian fund 1MDB. He cooperated with prosecutors and became ...

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