Former Malaysian Prime Minister Found Guilty of Fraud
Former Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, was found guilty on Friday of abusing his power to plunder millions of dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) sovereign wealth fund and laundering the proceeds.
His sentencing, expected later on Friday, is likely to add years to the six-year prison term he is already serving in a separate case linked to the now-defunct state investment vehicle.
Presiding judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah convicted the 72-year-old former leader on all four counts of abuse of power and all 21 counts of money laundering involving about 2.28 billion ringgit, equivalent to roughly $554 million.
Najib, dressed in a navy blue suit and white shirt, looked down and slumped in his seat as the judge delivered the verdict.
The son of one of Malaysia’s founding fathers, Najib was groomed for leadership from an early age but later suffered a dramatic fall from power as public anger grew over the corruption scandal.
Since losing the 2018 general election, investigations under successive governments have implicated him and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, in multiple graft allegations.
Prosecutors told the court that Najib abused his roles as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of the 1MDB advisory board to channel vast sums from the fund into his personal bank accounts more than a decade ago.
Investigators said proceeds from the fund were used to purchase luxury real estate, a superyacht and high-value artworks.
Delivering his ruling on Friday morning, Judge Sequerah rejected several arguments raised by the defence, including claims that Najib had been deceived by his close associate, fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, popularly known as Jho Low.
The judge said the evidence showed that Jho Low acted as a proxy or agent for Najib in running the affairs of 1MDB, adding that this was no coincidence.
He described the defence claim that Najib was misled and duped by management and by Jho Low as unmeritorious.
1Malaysia Development Berhad was launched in 2009, shortly after Najib became prime minister, as a state investment fund meant to spur economic growth.
Whistleblowers later revealed that Jho Low, a well-connected financier with no official position, helped establish the fund and exercised significant influence over key financial decisions.
Authorities estimate that more than $4.5 billion was siphoned from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by fund officials and their associates, including Low, who remains on the run.
Judge Sequerah also dismissed claims that Middle Eastern donors were responsible for the money deposited into Najib’s accounts, calling the explanation a tale that surpassed even those from the Arabian Nights.
The prosecution relied on bank records, documentary evidence and testimony from more than 50 witnesses to make its case.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court that Najib portrayed himself as a victim of rogue subordinates when in fact he was the single most powerful decision-maker.
He said the accused wielded absolute financial, executive and political control.
Najib’s lawyers have maintained that he was unaware that 1MDB’s management worked closely with Jho Low to siphon funds from the agency.
His lead counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, told journalists last week that Najib never received a fair trial.
The defence again blamed Jho Low for the scandal, which triggered investigations in several countries, including Singapore and the United States, and damaged Malaysia’s international reputation.
Najib has apologised for allowing the 1MDB scandal to occur during his time in office but has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
He has insisted that he had no knowledge of illegal transfers from the fund into his accounts.
Earlier this week, Najib suffered another setback after a court rejected his bid to serve the remainder of his current sentence under house arrest instead of at Kajang Prison near Kuala Lumpur.
Each count of abuse of power carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to five times the value of the bribe involved.
AFP
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
