tirsdag 28. juli 2020

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak found guilty on seven charges related to 1MDB scandal

Disgraced former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been found guilty on seven charges related to the 1MDB scandal, which saw billions of dollars of taxpayers money funneled and embezzled out of Malaysia. Tuesday's ruling is the first judgment against Najib, who faces a variety of charges related to the onetime sovereign wealth fund, which prosecutors allege he and his allies used as a personal piggybank to support luxurious lifestyles and fund electioneering

High Court judge Nazlan Mohammed Ghazali found Najib guilty on all counts brought against him -- abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust -- in the current trial, which relates to $10 million of funds which were deposited into his personal accounts from a former unit of 1MDB.
Najib has consistently argued his innocence, welcoming the trial -- which he fought against tooth-and-nail before being deposed as prime minister -- as a chance to clear his name.

Ahead of Tuesday's verdict, he wrote on Facebook that "no matter what the decision is tomorrow in the High Court, it doesn't end here," indicating that he would appeal. "I don't give up," he added.