Archive · 23 Jan 2026
Ex-Goldman Banker Seeks Pardon Before Prison
Tim Leissner, a former banker at Goldman Sachs, admitted to helping steal a lot of money from a Malaysian fund called 1MDB.
He worked with others to take $4.5 billion, which is a huge amount.
Because he admitted his crimes and helped the government catch others involved, he is asking the president to forgive him so he doesn't have to go to prison.
He is supposed to start his two-year prison sentence soon, but he wants a pardon.
The president is looking at many requests like his, including from other people who did bad things with money.
Leissner said he knows what he did was very wrong and he is sorry.
Tim Leissner, a former Goldman Sachs banker, is seeking a presidential pardon before starting a two-year prison sentence for his role in the 1MDB fraud.
Leissner pleaded guilty in 2018 to embezzling $4.5 billion from the Malaysian fund 1MDB and cooperated with prosecutors.
He is scheduled to surrender to a federal prison in Southern California on February 6.
Leissner's pardon application was submitted between September 3 and November 18, 2023.
The 1MDB fraud led to the fall of the Malaysian government and investigations in six countries.
- Who
- Tim Leissner, former Goldman Sachs banker
- What
- Seeking a presidential pardon before starting a two-year prison sentence for his role in the 1MDB fraud
- When
- Pardon application submitted between September 3 and November 18, 2023; prison surrender scheduled for February 6
- Where
- United States
- Why
- Leissner pleaded guilty to embezzling $4.5 billion from the Malaysian fund 1MDB and cooperated with prosecutors
- Name
- Tim Leissner
- Former Position
- Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker and Southeast Asia chairman
- Crime
- Embezzlement of $4.5 billion from Malaysian fund 1MDB
- Plea
- Guilty in 2018
- Sentence
- 2 years in prison
- Prison Surrender Date
- February 6
- Cooperation
- Star witness in 2022 trial against former Goldman colleague
- Pardon Application
- Submitted between September 3 and November 18, 2023