Kuala lumpur: Jailed former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak faces a make-or-break week from Monday as a second court battle over his role in the country's 1MDB mega-corruption scandal draws to an end. The 72-year-old, already serving six years for graft linked to the sovereign wealth fund's plunder, risks another lengthy prison term if convicted of fresh charges next Friday after a marathon trial.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Monday brings a separate High Court ruling on Najib's bid to change his current sentence, being served at Kajang Prison outside Kuala Lumpur since August 2022, to one of house arrest. Next Friday's verdict on charges of abuse of power and money laundering worth hundreds of millions of dollars looms larger, however. Prosecutors allege Najib abused his position as prime minister, finance minister, and 1MDB advisory board chairman to move large amounts of money from the fund to his personal account more than a decade ago. He faces four counts of abuse of power to obtain approximately 2.28 billion ringgit ($554 million) from 1MDB funds, plus 21 counts of money laundering.
The prosecution presented bank records, testimony from over 50 witnesses, and documentary evidence, while countering defense arguments blaming Najib's close associate, the fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low. Low, currently on the run, is seen as the mastermind behind the scheme to plunder the country's investment vehicle and spend the proceeds on high-end real estate and pricey art, including a Monet and a Van Gogh.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib argued during closing submissions that Najib wielded absolute financial, executive, and political control, as reported by the Bernama national news agency. Najib's lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, contended that Najib never received a fair trial and framed the funds received by Najib as donations. Najib has apologized for the 1MDB scandal occurring during his tenure but maintains he knew nothing about illegal transfers from the now-defunct state fund.
In a separate hearing on Monday, Najib seeks to serve the rest of a six-year sentence under house arrest instead of in jail, after a judge ruled earlier this year that he could use an apparent royal decree to support his claim. However, if convicted on the new charges, Najib faces a lengthy extension to his current sentence and a further blow to his political influence within Malaysia's oldest political party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Each count of abuse of power is punishable by up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the amount of the bribe.
The allegations that stolen funds were used for extravagant purchases played a major role in voters ousting Najib and the long-ruling UMNO party in the 2018 elections. The 1MDB scandal sparked investigations in the United States, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Singapore, where the funds were allegedly laundered, and damaged Malaysia's image abroad.