KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — On Wednesday, a Malaysian court dismissed charges against former Prime Minister Najib Razak concerning a criminal breach of trust that was associated with the massive theft of a state investment fund.
Najib, who has been serving a sentence since 2022 after being found guilty in a previous corruption case linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, faces additional legal challenges. In the latest proceedings, he was jointly accused with former treasury chief Irwan Serigar Abdullah for allegedly misappropriating 6.6 billion ringgit (approximately $1.5 billion) in public funds, which were designated for a settlement payment to Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled in favor of Najib and his co-defendant, citing procedural delays and the prosecution’s failure to provide essential documents that were critical for the defense’s case. Najib’s attorney, Muhammad Farhan, indicated that while the charges were dropped, this resolution does not equate to a full acquittal, as prosecutors still have the option to reinstate the charges in the future.
Farhan emphasized that the court’s decision was grounded on the failure to share crucial documents, which became relevant to the defense six years after the initial charges were filed. The attorney asserted that the court properly exercised its authority in discharging Najib from these specific allegations.
Najib, who established the 1MDB fund in 2009 shortly after assuming power, has been implicated in a scandal where investigators claim that over $4.5 billion was misappropriated and laundered by associates to fund lavish purchases and Hollywood films. This scandal led to the collapse of Najib’s administration and his subsequent defeat in the 2018 elections.
In a rare move, Najib issued an apology last month for the scandal occurring under his leadership, while also maintaining his stance of innocence.
Additionally, in another significant case, the court has mandated Najib to present his defense concerning charges directly tied to the 1MDB scandal. In this instance, the prosecution has been able to substantiate claims that Najib abused his power to acquire over $700 million from the fund, which was funneled into his personal bank accounts from 2011 to 2014. The ongoing legal troubles include 21 counts of money laundering associated with this same sum.
Furthermore, Najib faces yet another trial regarding money laundering. Corruption charges are also pending against his wife, Rosmah Mansor, and various senior government officials involved in the accusations.