A Malaysian court has upheld the guilty verdict of former Prime Minister Najib, Reuters has confirmed

Author: Rozanna Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A Malaysian court on Wednesday upheld the verdict of former Prime Minister Najib Raza for a multi-billion dollar scandal in the state-run Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), a blow to hopes for a political return.

Najibe was appealing a 12-year prison sentence imposed on the Kuala Lumpur High Court last year and a $ 50 million fine for breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering, one of five trials he is facing on corruption charges.

The court illegally received about $ 10 million from SRC International, a now defunct former 1MDB unit, although Najibe pleaded not guilty and was constantly denied.

The appeal was viewed with caution by government party leaders who were facing criminal charges following fears that Najib’s party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), would return to power in August, to ensure calm.

“It’s an important decision that has a direct political effect,” opposition lawmaker Wong Chen said on Twitter (NYSE :). “This ruling means that Najib will not be able to run as a candidate if elections are held early next year.”

Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, a judge of the Court of Appeal, said he agreed with the High Court on the conviction and the verdict.

“We reject the appeal on seven charges and uphold the conviction on seven charges,” the judge said.

Najib was released on bail pending appeals, and Judge Abdul Karim agreed to his request for his release and suspended his sentence.

Najib’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, told the judge that the former prime minister would appeal the verdict in the Federal High Court in Malaysia.

Deputy Prosecutor V. Sithambaram told reporters that the appeals process in the Najib Supreme Court could take 9 months after the verdict.

Wearing a black suit, Najibe showed no emotion in reading the verdict and was seen taking notes from time to time during the hearing.

U.S. and Malaysian authorities say they stole $ 4.5 billion from 1MDB and put more than $ 1 billion in Najib’s personal accounts.

Najibe has a total of 42 criminal charges and five trials, including the SRC case.

He continues to have an impact on his party, amid widespread allegations of corruption that he voted for three years earlier.

He also saw a political return, he told Reuters in September https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/exclusive-malaysias-najib-may-seek-re-election-parliament-despite-conviction-2021 – 09-19 has not ruled out a re-election to parliament, a move that would have called for his conviction to be overturned.