In the latest turn of events involving former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, a verdict has been given. The High Court today has found Najib guilty on all seven charges: “one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), and three counts of money laundering, all involving RM42mil misappropriated from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a 1MDB subsidiary.”
The Star reports that he faces:
- imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine for the abuse of power charge
- up to 20 years’ prison, whipping and a fine for the three CBT charges
- up to 15 years in jail and a fine for the money laundering charges.
Not long after the High Court ruled the above, however, Najib’s defence representative and lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asked the court to delay sentencing procedures. High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali wasn’t convinced of the need and ordered them to submit proof of their argument when court resumes at 2pm (currently in session).
EDIT, 29 July 2020:
The verdict from yesterday’s trial ended with Justice Nazlan sentencing Najib to:
- 12 years’ jail and RM210mil fine for one court of power abuse
- 10 years’ jail for each of the charges
- Another 10 years’ jail for each of the three counts of money laundering
The court also ordered for the jail time to run concurrently and allowed Shafee’s application for a stay of execution on both jail time and fine. Najib is expected to pay a total of RM2million by today (it was originally set at RM1million), and will need to report to the nearest police station twice a month.
The former Prime Minister’s next step is to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal. Until then, he is permissible to still carry out his duties as Pekan MP until the appeal process is completed, as well as attend Dewan Rakyat meetings (which end on August 27).
If his appeal there fails, he has a choice to take it to the Federal Court. But if his case is still going on, Najib will not be able to contest in the next general election should it be held at the same time. According to this article on The Star, “Article 48(3) stated upon being disqualified, the person would not be able to run for office to be an MP for a period of five years from the date of his sentence.”
Meanwhile, we rounded up some of the best Twitter reactions about the ruling:
1.
#Najib guilty of all 7 charges pic.twitter.com/j17PStkbM5
— MGAG (@My_MGAG) July 28, 2020
2.
I had an 1MDB joke, but Najib stole it
— Hafiz Noor Shams (@__earth) July 28, 2020
3.
Remember this, if BN won in 2018, we won’t see this day. Najib will still be the PM plundering the nation with this gang of thieves and he will never ever see the door of a courtroom.
Remember that.
— Khabir (@KhabirM) July 28, 2020
4.
Ex-Malaysian PM Najib Razak found guilty of all seven corruption charges, mere days after @taylorswift13 dropped her new album Folklore. A coincidence? I think not.
— TS Deric Once, Orbit & Swiftie (@babybinbaik) July 28, 2020
5.
A true leader would have made it absolutely clear to the people he served that they should stay safe at home.
Our DG and frontliners are working day and night to prevent a second wave, and y’all do this nonsense.
There’s going to be a Najib cluster. pic.twitter.com/EuINL3ASFQ
— Thevesh (@Thevesh) July 28, 2020
6.
COVID-19 amik cuti hari ni ke pic.twitter.com/yFLvrAjInd
— Typical Malaysian (@TypicalMsian) July 28, 2020
7.
Dr Noor Hisham right now https://t.co/2kWnFh1QcM pic.twitter.com/CRKNcp2jwr
— ЅΔFШΔ∏ (@thesafwannn) July 28, 2020
8.
[Perbualan di penjara]
“Eh kenapa kau masuk penjara?”
“Aku tikam orang”
“Aku ragut makcik”
“Saya tak tahu…”
— Faizal Rosly (@ijaicool) July 28, 2020
9.
imagine, risking your life going out to show solidarity for the man who didn’t paid his RM1 bilion taxes.
— izzat (@izzataziz) July 28, 2020
10.
With Najib Razak’s convinction, he is now disqualified as a candidate in the upcoming General Election. #GE15
— Sin Yew (@S_Y_New) July 28, 2020
11.
For the disillusioned voters, never say you wasted your vote in 2018. Thank you voters, thank you former AG Tommy Thomas and thank you former Cabinet led by @chedetofficial. Only the wicked will tell you there is no point to go out and vote.
— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) July 28, 2020
12.
I will only truly celebrate once he steps into Sg Buloh.
But till then, I guess today is an important milestone.
— Dr Jason Leong (@DrJasonLeong) July 28, 2020
13.
Buying some snacks… pic.twitter.com/jCVEu5x90r
— Ong Kian Ming (@imokman) July 28, 2020
14.
Hello pulis hello KKM. https://t.co/MmUXXwtCxo
— YS (@youngsyefura) July 28, 2020
15.
I very rarely commented on anything political nowadays.
But I did spend many years on the frontline dealing with 1MDB and SRC scandals as an MP.
I never expected much from those years, but I did feel that all the heartbreaks were well worth it today.
Well done Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/eopOVT7vXX
— Rafizi Ramli (@rafiziramli) July 28, 2020
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