By Annisa Essack
23:08:2022

Malaysia’s top court upheld ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak’s graft conviction and 12-year prison sentence in connection with the looting of the 1MDB state fund on Tuesday. Because Najib lost his final appeal, he will have to begin serving his sentence immediately, making him the first former prime minister to be imprisoned.

The five-member Federal Court panel unanimously determined that the high court judge was correct in his decision and that Najib’s appeal was “devoid of any merits.” The court upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence.

1MDB was a development fund established by Najib shortly after assuming power in 2009. Investigators believe Najib’s associates stole at least $4.5 billion from the fund and laundered it. In 2020, Najib was found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering after receiving $9.4 million illegally from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.

Najib, 69, has maintained his innocence and has been released on bail while his appeals are heard. He stood up in the dock just before the court delivered its verdict to make a statement protesting the Supreme Court’s refusal last week to delay the appeal to allow his newly appointed lawyers to prepare for the case.

Najib claimed that he was “unfairly treated” and that his case was rushed. He noted that a leaked Federal Court verdict had been posted on a website and stated that if this were true, it would be “judicial misconduct of the highest order.”

However, Chief Justice Maimun Tuan Mat stated that the appeal hearings had concluded because Najib’s lawyers refused to present any new arguments in protest of not being given more time to prepare. She then read the verdict of the court.

Najib appeared stunned, with family and friends immediately surrounding him.

The verdict came after Najib made several attempts to delay the case.

Earlier Tuesday, he requested that Maimun be removed from the case, citing potential bias due to her husband’s negative Facebook post about Najib’s leadership shortly after his ouster in the 2018 general elections. Najib’s request, however, was denied by the judges.

Maimun, Malaysia’s first female chief justice appointed in 2019, has come under fire on social media from Najib supporters. A man was arrested over the weekend for death threats against Maimun. Hundreds of Najib supporters gathered in solidarity outside the court. The 1MDB scandal sparked investigations in the United States and numerous other countries, ultimately causing Najib’s government to fall in the 2018 elections. Najib is facing 42 charges in five separate trials related to 1MDB, and his wife is also facing corruption charges.

Najib, however, continues to wield political power. His United Malay National Organization now leads the current government, formed following the collapse of the reformist government that won the 2018 elections.