The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has obtained a court order forfeiting a luxury New York apartment and related rental income purchased with funds misappropriated from 1MDB, resolving a civil forfeiture case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The case sought recovery of more than USD 6 million in assets associated with an international conspiracy to launder funds diverted from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. According to the civil forfeiture complaints, billions of dollars were misappropriated from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by high-level 1MDB officials, their associates, and Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, through embezzlement and international money laundering. The condominium was allegedly bought for the benefit of May Ling Catherine Tan, a personal assistant to Low, and Tan also retained rental proceeds from the property. Under the forfeiture order, both the condominium and the rental income held by Tan will be forfeited to the U.S. government.
U.S. Department of Justice2026-05-27
U.S. Department of Justice secures forfeiture of New York apartment and rental income tied to 1MDB misappropriation
The U.S. Department of Justice obtained a court order forfeiting a luxury New York apartment and related rental income purchased with funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), resolving a civil forfeiture case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The order covers more than USD 6 million in assets linked to an international conspiracy involving high-level 1MDB officials, their associates, and Low Taek Jho, and directs forfeiture of the condominium and rental income held by May Ling Catherine Tan.