Ex-Malaysia PM Najib Razak found guilty: What is 1MDB scam | Explained
A Malaysian court has convicted former Prime Minister Najib Razak in a major 1MDB corruption case, sentencing him to 15 years in prison for money laundering and abuse of power. The ruling, delivered after a seven-year trial, is being seen as a landmark moment for judicial accountability in Malaysia.
New Delhi: A Malaysian court on Friday convicted former Prime Minister Najib Razak in a multi-million-dollar 1MDB scam. Following the pivotal judgment, the ex-premier was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in his second major trial.
The Kuala Lumpur court ruled that Najib was involved in at least 21 counts of money laundering and four counts of abuse of power related to the illegal transfer of 2.2 billion Malaysian ringgit ($543 million) from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund into his personal accounts.
'Evidences were strong enough to refute his claims'
Delivering the verdict, Judge Sequera said the evidence against the accused was obtained after overcoming several challenges. Najib repeatedly claimed that the allegations against him were fabricated; however, the court held that the evidence was strong enough to refute his claims.
Public prosecutors argued that Najib had systematically misused his positions as prime minister, finance minister, and chairman of the 1MDB advisory board. They accused him of transferring massive sums of money from the sovereign wealth fund into his personal bank accounts.
When did it start?
The case dates back to 2020, when Najib was accused of misappropriating large sums from 1MDB and was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, the sentence was later reduced to six years.
The latest ruling is significant as the case was heard over the past seven years. During the trial, lawyers called 76 witnesses, including Najib himself.
Experts opined that the judgment could have a major impact on Malaysia’s political landscape, with Najib’s conviction seen as a reflection of judicial accountability in the country.