Najib Finally Goes To Jail But There Are 4 Other Cases He Still Hasn't Answered For
The court of law isn't done with the ex-prime minister of Malaysia yet.
By Jasmine Chea — 24 Aug 2022, 07:40 PM — Updated over 2 years ago
Former premier Najib Razak finally started his prison sentence yesterday, 23 August, after failing to overturn his corruption conviction at the Federal Court
The sentence was delivered by a five-member panel led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
The court announced that it was satisfied with the findings it had over Najib's SRC International case and said that there were no errors in their judgement.
Najib was ordered to serve a 12-year prison sentence and was slapped with a hefty fine of RM210 million.
However, the SRC International case is just the beginning of the end for Najib's political career as there are more cases he needs to answer for.
1. The RM2.82 billion 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal (2020)
Disguised as a government plan to develop the country, the 1MDB scandal gained international notoriety when Najib was accused of embezzling a total of RM2.82 billion from the sovereign wealth fund, which the money was then distributed by co-conspirators to offshore accounts in different countries such as Switzerland, the US, and Singapore.
Najib was alleged to have taken RM2.67 billion and funnelled it into his own personal bank accounts. It was reported that the former premier and convicted businessman, Low Taek Jho (infamously known as Jho Low), conspired to embezzle the money for personal gain.
According to The Edge, Najib filed an appeal to postpone the trial, which is now expected to resume in the High Court on Thursday, 25 August.
2. RM6.6 billion CBT case involving International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) (2018)
According to Free Malaysia Today, Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah were charged with six counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) amounting to RM6.6 billion in government funds involving payments to International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
In March this year, both Najib and Serigar failed in their bid to dismiss the charges at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
While the prosecution in the case was ready with charges, the trial date has not been set by the court, reported New Straits Times.
Former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah (left) and Datuk Seri Najib Razak (right).
Image via EdgeProp3. Najib's 1MDB audit report tampering (2018)
Using his authority as the then prime minister and with the help of former 1MDB president and CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, Najib allegedly amended the 1MDB audit report in order to absolve himself of any criminal charges and protect himself from civil liability.
According to New Straits Times, a witness said there were four matters amended in the audit report:
- Two different versions of 1MDB's financial statements for 2014;
- The agreement between Thailand Country Group Securities and ACME Time Ltd;
- The presence of fugitive businessman Jho Low; and
- The delay in issuing the Islamic medium-term notes.
Friday, 26 August, has been tentatively fixed to resume the trial, reported Free Malaysia Today.
Former president and chief executive officer of 1Malaysia Development Berhad Arul Kanda Kandasamy.
Image via Abdullah Yusof/New Straits Times4. Three additional charges of money laundering involving RM27 million of SRC International funds (2019)
On all three charges, the Pekan MP allegedly accepted RM27 million, RM10 million, and RM10 million at his three AmPrivate Banking accounts, proceeds of which were from illegal activities.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001. If found guilty, he faces a fine of up to RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The case has yet to go to trial.
