KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been convicted on charges of abuse of power in a landmark corruption case involving the misappropriation of funds from the country’s sovereign wealth fund. The verdict was delivered by a Malaysian court earlier today.
Najib Razak, 72, was found guilty on multiple counts of abuse of power. Further judgments related to money laundering charges are expected later in the day. The accusations against Razak include abuse of office, money laundering, and the alleged embezzlement of approximately 2.28 billion Ringgit (about $564 million USD) from the sovereign wealth fund. The scandal has triggered international investigations due to its wide-reaching implications.
The former prime minister is already serving a six-year prison sentence from a previous conviction related to the same fund. This new conviction is likely to extend his time behind bars.
Prosecutors argued that Razak, during his tenure as Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Chairman of the sovereign wealth fund’s advisory board, illicitly transferred funds into his personal accounts. The prosecution presented extensive evidence, including detailed banking records and testimonies from numerous witnesses. The defense’s attempt to shift blame to fugitive businessman Jho Low, suspected of orchestrating the fund’s looting and lavish spending, was rejected.
Judge Collin Lawrence stated that Razak was not naive or merely a beneficiary of a powerful political family but possessed “extraordinary intelligence.” He added that Razak used Jho Low as a proxy to manage the fund’s affairs and execute questionable financial transactions. The conviction follows a recent legal setback for Razak, as the court denied his request to commute his remaining prison sentence to house arrest. Analysts suggest that this ruling could further weaken what remains of his political influence.
