Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak waves as he arrives on the federal court in Putrajaya on August 15, 2022. Malaysia’s top court Monday began hearing a final appeal by former Prime Minister Najib Razak to toss out his graft conviction linked to the large looting of the 1MDB state fund.
Mohd Rasfan | Afp | Getty Images
Malaysia’s top court Monday began hearing a final appeal by former Prime Minister Najib Razak to toss out his graft conviction linked to the large looting of the 1MDB state fund.
He would turn into Malaysia’s first former prime minister to be imprisoned if his case fails. Najib, 69, has reiterated his innocence and has been out on bail pending his appeals.
He was sentenced to 12 years in jail by a high court in July 2020 after being found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering for illegally receiving 42 million ringgit ($9.4 million) from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence in December, describing the case as a “national embarrassment.” His last avenue, the Federal Court, is scheduled to listen to the case until Aug. 26.
Najib has modified to a recent team of lawyers for his final appeal. His defense team is attempting to introduce recent evidence that will spark a retrial, citing conflict of interest by the high court judge who convicted Najib.
1MDB was a development fund Najib arrange shortly after taking power in 2009. Investigators allege a minimum of $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najib’s associates.
The scandal sparked investigations within the U.S. and several other other countries and caused the downfall of Najib’s government in 2018 elections. Najib faces a complete of 42 charges in five separate trials linked to 1MDB, and his wife can also be on trial for corruption.
Despite his graft conviction, Najib stays politically influential. His United Malays National Organization leads the present government after defections of lawmakers caused the collapse of the reformist government that won the 2018 polls.
Najib remains to be a lawmaker pending his appeal but he cannot contest if an early general election known as. National polls aren’t due until the second half of 2023, but there have been strong calls from UMNO leaders for early elections.
