Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib will have to prepare a defense in the 1MDB corruption case

KUALA LUMPUR – Jailed former prime minister Najib Razak will have to prepare a defense against allegations related to receiving gratuities from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which were deposited into his bank accounts, as well as money laundering charges.

On October 30, Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah of the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Najib to answer the charges on the grounds that he had not been misled or prejudiced about the charges against him.

“I find that the charges meet all the legal criteria set out in the Code of Criminal Procedure,” Judge Sequerah said, finding that the charges against Najib were well-founded.

In response, Najib’s lead defense attorney, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client had nothing to hide and would testify.

He also said that his client, who was present in court, was “very disappointed” with the court’s decision.

Najib, 71, was charged with four counts of abusing his position to receive illegal funds amounting to RM2.28 billion (S$690 million) from the coffers of state fund 1MDB and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.

Najib’s defense trial is scheduled to start on December 2.

Halmie Azrie Abdul Halim, senior analyst at political risk consultancy Vriens and Partners, said the court’s decision would mean another prolonged trial that could take several years.

“Given his age and tarnished reputation, this likely spells the end of Najib’s political career,” he told The Straits Times.

Najib, former Umno president, stepped down after the party’s first-ever defeat in the 2018 general election.

After the 2022 general elections, the Umno-led Barisan Nasional alliance joined Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, which also includes Pakatan Harapan and parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

Halmie said: “The court’s decision will put Umno at a crossroads as it must now decide whether to stick with Najib until the end or cut its losses and abandon him.”

Analysts say the High Court’s ruling will renew public confidence in the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that everyone, including former national leaders, is subject to the same rules, regardless of rank and status, and can be held accountable where there is significant evidence of a crime. .

Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said: “By bringing an eminent person to justice, Malaysia is demonstrating its commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity in governance. It exemplifies the effectiveness of the checks and balances that are essential to a healthy democracy.”

Time will tell whether Najib’s supporters in Umno will use his legal setbacks to threaten the political party’s commitment to Anwar’s unity government.

Amir Fareed Rahim, KRA Group’s chief strategy officer, said: “Some quarters within Umno may be putting pressure on the top leadership to exercise Najib’s discretion to determine whether Umno should continue working with Mr Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition in the next general election.” .

The next general election in Malaysia will be held in early 2028.

The offenses relating to Najib’s abuse of power were allegedly committed at a branch of AmIslamic Bank, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon, between February 24, 2011 and December 19, 2014. The money laundering offenses were allegedly committed at the same location in the period from March 22 to August 30, 2013.

On October 24, Najib publicly apologized to all Malaysians in a statement read by his son, Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib, regarding the 1MDB scandal that occurred during his tenure as prime minister and finance minister.

Najib said he was unaware that the money transferred to his bank accounts came from 1MDB funds.

“I am still in deep shock knowing now the extent of the terrible and thoughtless antics and illegal things that took place at 1MDB. I deeply regret what happened,” Najib wrote in a letter read by his son.

On October 25, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim “welcomed” the apology after being questioned by reporters.

On October 30, more than 100 Najib supporters gathered outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court, calling for justice. Some chanted “bebas bossku” – “free my boss” in Malay – referring to Najib.

Najib, who served 24 months in prison, had he was originally serving a 12-year prison sentence from August 2022 for a previous RM42 million bribery conviction linked to 1MDB subsidiary SRC International.

However, in January, the Pardons Commission, chaired by the outgoing king, decided to halve Najib’s prison sentence, allowing him to be released from prison on August 23, 2028.

In 2023, Najib was acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on charges of abuse of power by falsifying the 2016 audit of the scandal-hit sovereign wealth fund.

Najib faces two more pending criminal cases. He is accused of laundering RM27 million belonging to SRC International and committing breach of trust relating to RM6.6 billion in government funds paid to the government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company of Abu Dhabi.