Kuala Lumpur: MalaysiaThe top court ordered the former prime minister Najib Razaki State Fund 1 to begin a 12-year prison sentence on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to charges related to the multi-billion-dollar corruption scandal in Malaysia Vikas Barhadi (1MDB).
Rejecting Najeeb’s final appeal, the country’s top court also rejected his request to stay the sentence.
Najeeb, 69, was found guilty by a trial court in July 2020 of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering for illegally receiving nearly $10 million. SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. He was out on bail and pending appeals.
The former prime minister, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of 210 million ringgit ($46.84 million).
chief Magistrate Tengku Maimun Tuan Mato Said that the court unanimously rejected Najeeb’s appeal and the conviction of the lower courts is safe.
“The defense is so inherently inconsistent and unreliable that it has not raised reasonable doubt on the matter … we also find that the punishment imposed is clearly not excessive,” she said.
najibo He was sitting in the courtroom when the verdict was read out. his wife, Rosma MansoorAnd three children were sitting behind him.
The court had earlier rejected Najeeb’s last gasp attempt to stall the final verdict by requesting the removal of the Chief Justice from the panel.
Addressing the court moments before the final verdict was delivered, Najeeb said he was a victim of an injustice, while requesting two more months for his new lawyers to prepare for his appeal.
“It is the worst feeling to feel that the power of the judiciary is rested against me in the most unfair way,” Najeeb told the court.
Prosecutors have said that about $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB co-founded by Najib during his first year as prime minister in 2009. Investigators say they unearthed more than $1 billion worth of 1MDB in accounts linked to Najib.
The widespread scandal has implicated authorities and financial institutions around the world, and prompted the US Justice Department to open what became its largest-ever kleptocracy investigation.
Najeeb, who is facing several lawsuits over the allegations, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Rejecting Najeeb’s final appeal, the country’s top court also rejected his request to stay the sentence.
Najeeb, 69, was found guilty by a trial court in July 2020 of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering for illegally receiving nearly $10 million. SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. He was out on bail and pending appeals.
The former prime minister, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of 210 million ringgit ($46.84 million).
chief Magistrate Tengku Maimun Tuan Mato Said that the court unanimously rejected Najeeb’s appeal and the conviction of the lower courts is safe.
“The defense is so inherently inconsistent and unreliable that it has not raised reasonable doubt on the matter … we also find that the punishment imposed is clearly not excessive,” she said.
najibo He was sitting in the courtroom when the verdict was read out. his wife, Rosma MansoorAnd three children were sitting behind him.
The court had earlier rejected Najeeb’s last gasp attempt to stall the final verdict by requesting the removal of the Chief Justice from the panel.
Addressing the court moments before the final verdict was delivered, Najeeb said he was a victim of an injustice, while requesting two more months for his new lawyers to prepare for his appeal.
“It is the worst feeling to feel that the power of the judiciary is rested against me in the most unfair way,” Najeeb told the court.
Prosecutors have said that about $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB co-founded by Najib during his first year as prime minister in 2009. Investigators say they unearthed more than $1 billion worth of 1MDB in accounts linked to Najib.
The widespread scandal has implicated authorities and financial institutions around the world, and prompted the US Justice Department to open what became its largest-ever kleptocracy investigation.
Najeeb, who is facing several lawsuits over the allegations, has consistently denied wrongdoing.