UPDATE: KL High Court Orders Najib to Enter Defence for 4 Abuse of Power Charges Involving RM2.3 Billion

The High Court has delivered its verdict in the high-profile case involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for his 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption trial. 

As reported by BERNAMA, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah (now a Court of Appeal judge) delivered the decision in which he asserted that all of Najib’s 25 charges pertaining to 1MDB are valid and not defective.

Justice Collin was quoted by CNA Senior Correspondent Melissa Goh as saying that the defence accusation that criminal charges against the former Prime Minister were defective has no merit. Furthermore, he said that the witnesses were credible.

Justice Collin further found that on the abuse of power charges, Najib, who was a public officer at that time, played a pivotal role in PetroSaudi transactions with 1MDB. The learned judge noted that Najib was chairman and advisor of the board and was responsible for securing government approvals and his signatures were everywhere.

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High Court orders Najib to enter defence for 4 charges of abuse of power involving 1MDB funds

Furthermore, Justice Collins has ordered Najib to enter defence for 4 charges of using his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds.

The 4 charges were under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act.

He was accused of having used his position to gain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds in AmIslamic Bank Berhad’s branch on Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between 14 February 2011 and 19 December 2014.

For these charges, the former Finance Minister faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine amounting to either five times the value involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher if convicted.

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Najib is also facing another 21 charges

Besides that, Najib is also facing another 21 charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. 

The former Prime Minister was accused of having committed the offences at the same bank between 22 March 2013 and 30 August 2013.

For these charges, he could face a maximum fine of RM5 million or a prison term of up to 5 years, or both, upon conviction.

#KualaLumpur: Bekas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hadir di Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini menjadi tumpuan orang ramai yang ingin mengetahui keputusan kes berprofil tinggi membabitkan Najib yang menghadapi pertuduhan berkaitan dana… pic.twitter.com/jtN9VnxUDu

— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) October 30, 2024

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Also read: “I accept it well” – PM Anwar Ibrahim Responds to Ex-PM Najib Razak’s Apology Over 1MDB Debacle