According to the defense team, Najib Razak was led to believe that the funds in his accounts were donated by the Saudi royal family rather…
Malaysia’s previous Prime Minister, Najib Razak, was sent to jail to start serving a 12-year sentence after the top court refused his plea. The allegations concern a corruption scandal involving state-owned wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
He was arrested in July 2020 but had been out on bail during the plea. The court also refused Najib’s appeal to postpone his sentence. He has constantly denied any wrongdoing.
In 2020, a court found him guilty on seven counts, centered on a total of 42 million ringgit, which was sent from SRC International, the previous unit of 1Malaysia Development Berhad, into his accounts. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail and a fine of 210 million ringgit.
According to the defense team, Najib Razak was led to believe the funds in his accounts were donated by the Saudi royal family rather than taken from the state fund.
The Defence Team Claims and The Chief Justice’s Verdict
They also argued he was fooled by financial advisers, mainly fugitive financier Jho Low, who has been accused in both the US and Malaysia and still preserves his innocence.
In his last move for freedom on Tuesday, Nijab Razak’s lawyer demanded the removal of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat from the panel calling over the case, in what was seen as an attempt to prevent a final judgment.
They argued she could be partial as her husband had created a Facebook post in 2018 which was critical of Najib Razak. However, the chief justice turned down the demand as she claimed the post was before the allegations were made against Najib Razak.
In her judgment, the chief justice claimed the five-judge panel collectively found that the sentence of Najib Razak on all seven counts was safe and the plea devoid of any merit.
“The defense is so naturally conflicting and incredible that it has not raised reasonable doubt on the case,” she said. The allegations addressed on Tuesday make up only the first of five trials relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
Najib Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, also faced money laundering and tax evasion allegations, to which she pleaded not guilty. She solely encountered corruption allegations related to a solar hybrid project, and the High Court is ready to deliver her judgment for this case on September 1.
