Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been acquitted in a recent trial related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.
- The scandal involves the alleged theft and laundering of over $4.5 billion from the 1MDB fund to finance extravagant purchases and even Hollywood films, with over $700 million ending up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.
- Despite the acquittal, the scandal continues to cast a shadow over Najib’s legacy and the wider Malaysian political establishment, with many calling for justice and transparency.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence following his conviction in one of several corruption trials related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, has been acquitted in a recent trial.
The 1MDB fund, which was established in 2009 shortly after Najib became prime minister, has been at the centre of a corruption scandal in which over $4.5 billion was allegedly stolen and laundered through various bank accounts in the United States and other countries. These funds were purportedly used to finance extravagant purchases such as hotels, a luxury yacht, art, jewellery and even Hollywood films. Shockingly, over $700 million of this money ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.
In the latest trial, Najib had been charged with tampering with an audit report to cover up the corruption allegations. However, he was found not guilty due to a lack of sufficient evidence to prove that he abused his position as Prime Minister and Finance Minister to order amendments to the audit report in 2016 before it was presented to Parliament.
The corruption scandal has caused great upheaval in Malaysia’s political landscape, with many people calling for justice and transparency in the face of such egregious corruption.
