Nicky Liow returned to the public eye when a photo of him in the ruling party’s uniform standing next to Prime Minister Anwar went viral
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenJoseph SipalanPublished: 7:56pm, 7 Aug 2026The revelation that an alleged Malaysian scam kingpin was released after paying 10 million ringgit (US$2.4 million) fine has sparked public outrage over claims of preferential treatment for a man at the centre of a controversial photo-op with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.Liow Soon Hee – better known as Nicky Liow – was cleared of all 26 money-laundering charges involving more than 36 million ringgit, the country’s top prosecutor said on Friday. Authorities earlier believed he led a multimillion ringgit criminal organisation dubbed the “Nicky Gang”.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said the decision was made after his lawyers filed a request for a settlement as provided for under the relevant laws.
“Based on the overall evidence at hand, and the evaluation and judgment of the prosecution, the department agreed to offer a compound totalling 10 million ringgit,” the AGC said in Friday’s statement.
“The amount was agreed to by Nicky Liow and it was paid on May 29, 2023,” the AGC said. It included the forfeiture of a nearly 650,000 ringgit bond deposited by Liow and assets that were seized by the authorities in connection with his case.
Liow was captured and charged in 2022 after being on the run for a year. Authorities were hunting him following a series of raids on premises linked to the gang.
