1MDB gets order for US$2.795b against Eric Tan, US$809,000 against Jho Low’s sister; court says money ‘tainted’

1MDB gets order for US$2.795b against Eric Tan, US$809,000 against Jho Low’s sister; court says money ‘tainted’



Lawyers for 1MDB and its subsidiaries, Lee Shih (centre) and Siva Kumar Kanagasabai (right) are pictured at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on November 25, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Tuesday, 25 Nov 2025 12:38 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — Sovereign investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and its four subsidiaries obtained a court order today against Low Taek Jho’s sister Low May Lin, and his close associate Eric Tan Kim Loong for the sums of US$809,319 and US$2,795,333,000 respectively.

High Court judge Mahazan Mat Taib granted the judgment in default for the two sums against Tan and May Lin, after finding that 1MDB had proven its case in its civil suit against the duo.

The judgment in default was granted as Tan and May Lin had been served with the court papers for the lawsuit, but both of them had failed to enter an appearance, file any pleading or attend the trial.

Among other things, the judge noted that evidence in this case showed that then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was also finance minister at that time had exercised de facto control over 1MDB’s major financial decisions.


The judge also noted that Taek Jho – better known as Jho Low – acted as Najib’s authorised proxy and shadow director despite having no formal position in 1MDB.

“The identities of the recipients, the structure of the transactions, and the roles of Jho Low and Datuk Seri Najib establish that the funds reaching Tan Kim Loong and Low May Lin were tainted proceeds,” she said when reading out the brief grounds of her judgment.

In May 2021, 1MDB, its subsidiaries 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited, Global Diversified Investment Company Limited (formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited) filed a civil suit against Jho Low, his family – father Tan Sri Low Hock Peng, sister May Lin, brother Low Taek Szen and mother Goh Gaik Ewe – and Tan.


The suit claimed that Jho Low, his associate and his family members had fraudulently concealed, fraudulently misappropriated, knowingly received funds belonging to 1MDB; and was also based on the claims of unjust enrichment, breach of trust and conspiracy.

In November 2022, 1MDB and its four subsidiaries had reportedly already obtained a judgment in default against Low, his father and his brother.

In May 2024, 1MDB and its four subsidiaries also reportedly obtained a judgment in default against Low’s mother.

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