Najib Razak Found Guilty on Multiple Counts in 1MDB Scandal Trial in Malaysia
Najib Razak, the former Malaysian Prime Minister, was found guilty in Putrajaya on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering related to the 1MDB scandal. The case involves the misappropriation of nearly 2.3 billion Malaysian Ringgit (approximately $569 million) from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund, with investigators estimating about $4.5 billion was siphoned off in total. This verdict marks Najib's second major trial connected to the 1MDB scandal after seven years of legal proceedings that included testimony from 76 witnesses.
The latest charges pertain to a 2013 transfer of funds into Najib's personal bank account. Najib claimed the money was a donation from the late Saudi King Abdullah; however, this explanation was rejected by the judge. Najib is already serving a separate prison sentence from a 2020 case related to SRC International, originally 12 years but later halved, and has been incarcerated since 2022. Most recently, the court denied his request to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, meaning he remains in prison.
Outside the court, supporters gathered in Najib's favor. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, who was jailed for bribery in 2022, is currently free on bail pending appeal. The 1MDB scandal has had significant political consequences, including the 2018 electoral defeat of Barisan Nasional, the coalition Najib once led, and ideological divisions within Malaysia’s ruling coalition. Malaysia’s current Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, called for respect for the judicial decisions in this matter.
