Former Malaysian PM Najib to face verdict in mega 1MDB graft trial
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak faces four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering relating to the plunder of hundreds of millions of dollars from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.
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KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak faces judgment on Friday (Dec 26) for his alleged involvement in Malaysia's 1MDB mega-graft scandal, with a guilty verdict likely to add years to a sentence already being served.
The 72-year-old faces four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering relating to the plunder of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Southeast Asian nation's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, sparking probes in several countries.
If found guilty, the man once seen as political royalty faces years more behind bars, already serving a six-year jail term after a conviction in a separate case relating to the 1MDB fund.
Friday's hearing opened around 9am local time before the Kuala Lumpur High Court, sitting in the country's administrative capital of Putrajaya.
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Presiding judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah started reading a lengthy verdict, before breaking for Friday afternoon prayers three hours later, with the hearing to resume at 3pm.
It was not known whether sentencing would immediately follow a guilty verdict, but if acquitted, Najib will return to Kajang Prison outside Kuala Lumpur to continue serving his prior sentence.
"UNMERITORIOUS"
During the morning's reading, Judge Sequerah slapped down several of the defence's arguments, including that Najib was duped by his close associate, the shadowy businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.
"The evidence clearly points to the fact that this was no coincidence but was evident of a relationship in which Jho Low operated as a proxy or agent of the accused (Najib) with regard to the running of the affairs of 1MDB," Sequerah said.
The defence's argument that Najib was "misled and duped by management and by Jho Low is unmeritorious", the judge said.
Low, who is currently on the run, is seen as the mastermind behind the scheme to plunder the country's investment vehicle and spend the proceeds on everything from high-end real estate to pricey art, including a Monet and a Van Gogh.
Sequerah also dismissed arguments that money flowing into Najib's accounts was "donations" from Middle East funders, calling it a "tale that surpassed even those from the Arabian Nights".
The verdict will continue Friday afternoon in the marathon trial, seen as the main case in the 1MDB affair and which involves some RM2.28 billion (US$563 million).
Prosecutors say 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 accounts more than a decade ago.
The prosecution presented bank records, testimony from over 50 witnesses and documentary evidence.
Najib "paints himself as a victim of rogue subordinates, when in truth, he was the single most powerful decision-maker", deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court during closing arguments.
"The accused wielded absolute financial, executive and political control," he said.
"NO FAIR TRIAL"
Najib's lawyers have previously said the politician was unaware that 1MDB's management was working hand in glove with Low to suck out large amounts of money from the fund, ostensibly established to foster economic growth in Malaysia.
Najib's lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, last week told journalists his client "never got a fair trial".
He again blamed Low for the scandal, which sparked probes internationally, from neighbouring Singapore to Europe and the United States, and rocked Malaysia's image abroad.
Najib has issued an apology for the 1MDB scandal happening during his tenure, but maintains he knew nothing about illegal transfers from the now-defunct state fund.
His legal battle was dealt a blow on Monday after he lost a bid to serve the remainder of his current jail term at home.
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.
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