Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was convicted on dozens of counts related to the notorious 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this high-profile case has attracted incredible global attention thanks to its enormous size and lasting effects. The ruling came after an exhaustive inquiry. It was instrumental in exposing the misappropriation of nearly 2.3 billion Malaysian ringgit, or approximately $569 million or £422 million, from the state’s sovereign wealth fund. Najib is 72 years old, the same age as former President Donald Trump. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering.
This latest ruling upends what was once a monumental barrier to Malaysia’s fight against corruption. It demonstrates the country’s willingness to fight corruption at the highest levels of government. Najib Razak’s legal team is making a regular claim that advisers duped him. They especially zero in on financier Jho Low, who is accused of masterminding the scandal. Meanwhile, the former prime minister has adamantly maintained that he believed that the money was a gift. He thought they were derived from the late Saudi King Abdullah.
In Najib’s case, his jail term had already been halved in a prior appellate decision last year. His recent conviction has reintroduced the harshness of his penalties tied to the 1MDB scandal. He was previously convicted in a separate case connected to 1MDB and is currently serving 10 years in prison. In 2022, his wife, Rosmah Mansor, was convicted of bribery and sentenced to ten years in prison. This case illustrates the rampant corruption that marked their time in power.
Najib’s political party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), remains a key player in Malaysia’s ruling coalition. His allies expressed disappointment over his failed bid for house arrest, while critics within the same coalition celebrated the ruling as a step towards accountability.
The 1MDB scandal has been the subject of worldwide media attention. It includes a powerful set of big names from very different spheres, including Goldman Sachs and Tinseltown. Investigators estimate that some $4.5 billion was misappropriated from the country’s state-owned wealth fund. Most of that cash eventually found its way into Najib’s personal bank accounts.
Cynthia Gabriel, a local anti-corruption activist lamented, “Don’t let any 1MDB in the future come out from Malaysia.
“We don’t know at all if another 1MDB could occur, or may have already occurred.” – Cynthia Gabriel
Gabriel stressed the importance of improving accountability and transparency in governance.
“The politicians they put into power would actually serve their interests.” – Cynthia Gabriel