Malaysia’s Najib Awaits Final Verdict in Major 1MDB Corruption Case
In a courtroom in Putrajaya, the final chapter of Malaysia’s largest corruption scandal is being written. On Friday, former Prime Minister Najib Razak faced judgment in what is considered the main trial related to the multi-billion dollar plunder of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) sovereign wealth fund. A guilty verdict could see the 72-year-old former leader spend many more years behind bars, adding to a six-year sentence he is already serving from a separate 1MDB conviction.
The charges are staggering: four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving approximately 2.28 billion ringgit ($563 million). Prosecutors allege that over a decade ago, Najib used his positions as prime minister, finance minister, and chairman of 1MDB’s advisory board to funnel vast sums from the state fund into his personal accounts.
A Judge Dismisses the Defense’s “Arabian Nights” Tale
As the hearing opened, presiding Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah began reading a lengthy verdict, immediately casting doubt on the defense’s core arguments. He firmly rejected the claim that Najib was a dupe, misled by the fugitive financier Jho Low, who is widely seen as the scandal’s mastermind.
“The evidence clearly points to the fact that this was no coincidence but was evident of a relationship in which Jho Low operated as a proxy or agent of the accused,” Judge Sequerah stated. He dismissed the defense narrative as “unmeritorious.”
The judge was equally unequivocal in refuting the defense’s claim that money entering Najib’s accounts were political donations from the Middle East, calling it a “tale that surpassed even those from the Arabian Nights.”
The Prosecution’s Case: “The Single Most Powerful Decision-Maker”
The prosecution’s case, built on bank records, testimony from over 50 witnesses, and extensive documentary evidence, paints Najib not as a victim, but as the architect of his own fortune. During closing arguments, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib argued that Najib “paints himself as a victim of rogue subordinates, when in truth, he was the single most powerful decision-maker.”
“The accused wielded absolute financial, executive and political control,” Gharib told the court.
Najib’s defense team, led by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, has consistently argued their client was unaware of the elaborate scheme and never received a fair trial. Last week, Shafee again placed the blame squarely on Jho Low, who remains at large. While Najib has apologized for the scandal occurring under his watch, he maintains he knew nothing of the illegal transfers.
A Nation Awaits the Outcome
The verdict, which resumed after a break for Friday prayers, carries profound weight. Each charge of abuse of power carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The outcome will resonate far beyond the courtroom, marking a pivotal moment for Malaysia’s justice system and its decades-long fight against high-level corruption.
The trial represents the core of a scandal that sparked global investigations, tarnished Malaysia’s international standing, and revealed a breathtaking trail of illicit spending on luxury real estate, a superyacht, and masterpiece art. As the judge’s words fill the courtroom, a nation watches to see whether its former leader will be held fully accountable for one of history’s greatest financial heists.
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