Bossku Gets 15 Years And RM11.38 Billion Fine

on
0

Najib Convicted On Four 1MDB Charges As Court Rules Saudi Donation Letters Fake

on

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter, or Telegram and WhatsApp channels for the latest stories and updates.

The High Court today (26 December) convicted former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on four charges of abusing his position to obtain RM2.2 billion in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds, ruling the defence failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah then read the verdict on 21 money-laundering charges involving the same amount.

The abuse of power offences were committed at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bukit Ceylon, between February 2011 and December 2014, while the money laundering charges relate to offences between March and August 2013.

The abuse of power charges under the MACC Act carry up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to five times the bribe value, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The money laundering charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFA) carry a maximum fine of RM5 million and a five-year jail term, or both.

Najib was charged in 2018 and ordered to enter his defence in October 2024 after prosecutors established a prima facie case.

Arab Donation Defence Rejected

The ruling strikes at the heart of Najib’s main defence – that the money flowing into his personal accounts was a donation from Saudi Arabian royalty.

Judge Sequerah said the 72-year-old former Prime Minister made no effort to verify that the funds he received were genuine and, more damning still, the letters were never presented to the court in their original form.

Najib had the resources to verify the authenticity of the funds, but chose to deliberately close his eyes, the judge said.

The court found that transaction trails showed the money was channelled through private third-party companies owned by Eric Tan Kim Loong, an associate of fugitive businessman Jho Low – not through official government or royal family channels.

Moreover, no written confirmation or letter of appreciation was sent to the Saudi royal family.

Even Najib’s own defence witness, former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, admitted he never heard directly that the late King Abdullah intended to channel financial contributions to Najib.

The judge stressed that the donation narrative was not recorded in Cabinet meeting minutes, and the court concluded that the Arab donation narrative was baseless and that the funds actually originated from 1MDB.

Already Behind Bars, Facing More Time

Najib is currently serving a reduced six-year prison sentence for corruption in the SRC International case, a smaller trial linked to the wider 1MDB scandal, after beginning his sentence in August 2022.

The former leader has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he was misled by Jho Low and other advisers about the source of funds that entered his personal bank accounts.

The 1MDB scandal, which erupted in 2015, involved billions of dollars allegedly siphoned from the Malaysian state investment fund and contributed to Najib’s shocking electoral defeat in 2018, ending his coalition’s six-decade grip on power.

After Justice Sequerah delivered his two-and-a-half-hour judgment, the court adjourned for Friday prayers before resuming at 3 pm, with the judge indicating he would need at least another hour and a half to complete his ruling.

His recent denial of house arrest has divided Malaysia’s unity government, with some DAP members celebrating the decision while UMNO politicians lashed back at them for what they called disrespect toward a former leader.

@harunmohdshah Mahkamah Putuskan Surat Derma Dari Arab Kepada Najib Adalah Palsu #najibrazak #pmx #zahidhamidi ♬ suara asli – musik tenang – instrumen sedih

READ MORE: Is Celebrating Najib’s Imprisonment Justice Or Cruelty? Malaysia’s Government Hangs In The Balance

READ MORE: No House Arrest For Najib, Court Orders Him To Remain In Kajang Prison

READ MORE: Najib’s Personal Chef Wanted To Make Him “Sup Kicap” But Court Said No House Arrest – What Is This Pekan Dish?

Parts of this story have been sourced from Malaysia Gazette.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Threads.



Najib Convicted On Four 1MDB Charges As Court Rules Saudi Donation Letters Fake
Entertainment Flash Report

Comments

Post a Comment