Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been found guilty of abuse of power in a significant ruling related to the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. The verdict, delivered on Friday, marks a critical moment in a trial that has drawn extensive attention both domestically and internationally. The judge has yet to announce the full details of the verdict or sentencing.
Investigations by authorities in both Malaysia and the United States indicate that approximately $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, a state fund co-founded by Najib in 2009. Allegations suggest that over $1 billion of these funds ended up in accounts associated with Najib, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He faces four counts of corruption and 21 counts of money laundering related to illegal transfers exceeding 2.3 billion ringgit (around $569.45 million) from the state fund.
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, during the reading of the verdict, stated that the evidence against Najib was “cold, hard and incontrovertible.” He noted that Najib’s claims of a politically motivated witch hunt were unfounded, emphasizing that the evidence clearly showed the former prime minister had abused his position of power in relation to 1MDB.
As a result of the convictions, Najib could face prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years for each charge, along with potential fines up to five times the value of the alleged misappropriations. Currently, at the age of 72, Najib has been incarcerated since August 2022, when Malaysia’s highest court upheld a previous conviction for corruption related to funds from 1MDB. His initial 12-year jail sentence was reduced last year by a pardons board.
The case has unveiled a connection between Najib and fugitive financier Jho Low, who has been implicated in the scandal but remains at large. In his defense, Najib claimed he was misled by Low and other officials regarding the origin of the funds in his accounts, suggesting they were donations from the Saudi royal family. Judge Sequerah rejected this narrative, labeling it “implausible” and stating that evidence indicated the funds were derived from 1MDB.
Political Repercussions and Government Stability
The ruling comes shortly after a court denied Najib’s appeal to serve his sentence under house arrest, a decision that has sparked tensions within the current government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Najib’s political party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), opposed Anwar in the 2022 elections but later joined his coalition to form a government after a hung parliament.
Some leaders within UMNO expressed disappointment over the court’s decision to deny Najib house arrest, while others reacted angrily to social media posts from members of Anwar’s coalition that celebrated the ruling. In response, Anwar has called for calm, urging all parties to accept the court’s decision with “full patience and wisdom.”
The implications of this verdict extend beyond Najib’s personal fate, potentially affecting the stability of Anwar’s administration and the broader political landscape in Malaysia. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this ruling will impact both Najib’s legal battles and the governance of the country.
