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Najib to stay in jail over 1MDB conviction

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s highest court rejected Najib Razak’s application to review his conviction related to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, in a fresh blow to the jailed ex-premier.

Najib’s arguments had no merit and is dismissed, according to Judge Vernon Ong, who read out the majority decision on behalf of the five-person Federal Court bench yesterday. Najib had not been denied a fair trial and he was the “author of his own misfortune”, the judge added.

Najib is serving a 12-year prison sentence after the Federal Court last year upheld an earlier ruling sentencing him over the transfer of MYR42 million (331 million baht) belonging to SRC International to his personal bank account. SRC is a former unit of 1MDB, an investment fund that had billions of dollars siphoned off across the globe.

Najib, 69, had asked for his conviction to be set aside and for another Federal Court bench to rehear his appeal. His review was sought on four grounds, including that the High Court judge who convicted him in 2020 allegedly had a conflict of interest. The Federal Court in a ruling that was split 4–1 dismissed all four of the defence team’s arguments.

One judge dissented, noting that after Najib’s defence lawyer refused to present during the appeals last year, the prosecution had two days to argue their case. “The applicant could not argue his own case although he was formerly a prime minister. An applicant that cannot be represented hence faces injustice,” said Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli.

Najib was first convicted in July 2020 on charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving SRC. The Court of Appeal in December 2021 maintained the MYR210 million fine and jail term, with a judge referring to Najib’s actions as a “national embarrassment”. He mounted a final appeal before the Federal Court while being out on bail and lost again.

The former prime minister has also applied for a royal pardon, but remains on trial for dozens of other criminal charges linked to the troubled state fund, each carrying prison terms and hefty financial penalties. Earlier this month, he was acquitted in a separate 1MDB trial related to the government audit report.

ASIA

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2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

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