Kuala lumpur: A Malaysian court has sentenced former Prime Minister Najib Razak to an additional 15 years in prison, coupled with a hefty fine of up to US$2.82 billion (approximately 96 billion baht), on charges of abuse of power and money laundering. This development marks the latest chapter in the protracted 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) national wealth fund corruption scandal, a case that could significantly affect Malaysia's political landscape.
According to Thai News Agency, investigations conducted by Malaysian and US authorities have uncovered that at least US$4.5 billion (approximately 153 billion baht) was misappropriated from the 1MDB fund, which Najib helped establish in 2009 during the early years of his nine-year tenure. Allegations suggest that more than US$1 billion (approximately 34 billion baht) found its way into accounts associated with the 72-year-old former leader, who continues to assert his innocence, claiming he is a "scapegoat" in this international scandal.
During a protracted five-hour verdict session, Supreme Court Justice Colin Lawrence Secure dismissed Najib's defense that he was repeatedly misled by others involved in the fund, labeling such claims as fantastical. Consequently, Najib was convicted on all 25 charges, which included four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering.
Najib's sentencing includes 15 years for abuse of power and an additional 5 years for money laundering, to be served concurrently following his release for the original case in 2028. He is also mandated to pay a fine of 11.3 billion ringgit (approximately 96 billion baht) and return assets exceeding 17 billion baht. Failure to adhere to these conditions could result in further imprisonment as per the court's ruling. Najib's defense team plans to file an appeal against this judgment on Monday.
The verdict has reverberated through Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition government, particularly affecting the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a pivotal ally in the ruling coalition where Najib still wields considerable influence despite his incarceration. This situation poses a risk of escalating political tensions within Malaysia.