Malaysia Court Discharges Najib From One of His 1MDB Cases

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak succeeded in setting aside another one of his court cases involving troubled state fund 1MDB, in a rare victory for the jailed politician.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court granted Najib a discharge, a reprieve that doesn't amount to an acquittal, on three counts of money laundering breaches related to SRC International Sdn Bhd., a former unit of 1Malaysia Development Bhd. A discharge is a ruling that leaves room for the prosecution to lay the same charges in the future.

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Ex-mayor, councilman sue to overturn CT town's controversial $117M budget referendum

The political atmosphere in Bloomfield grew even more contentious Wednesday when a former mayor and a former town councilman sued to reverse the controversial $117 million budget referendum. The lawsuit accuses Mayor Danielle Wong's administration of conducting a 'substantially false and misleading' referendum. It argues that the correct budget proposal was $113 million — but was bumped up to $117 million at the last minute only because Wong and her town council majority added $4 million that should've been sent to a separate public vote. The lawsuit by former Mayor Sydney Schulman, a Democrat, and former council member Rickford Kirton is the latest instance of an uncommonly public rift within the town's dominant political party. Suzette DeBeatham-Brown, another former Democratic mayor, had been clashing with Wong and her supporters long before the latest controversy. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit — including resident Lucy Hurston — are asking a Superior Court judge to declare the May 28 referendum invalid. They want the court to order a new referendum with two parts: One vote on the $113 million operations budget and a second on the $4 million fund appropriated for economic development. Republican Councilman Shamar Mahon has argued for two months that the council — including his two GOP colleagues — was wrong when it added those two together. 'The residents have been cheated out of a referendum vote due to the sudden change between the $113 million that was initially approved during our annual town meeting and the $117 million that came up when we voted to move forward with setting the referendum question,' Mahon told the council at its June 9 meeting. Mahon contended that the council endorsed a $113 million budget in mid-May, and then later added in $4 million for economic development. He complained that when he objected, the town attorney took several days to give an opinion saying the $4 million could be part of the overall budget vote. Critics have complained that the maneuver was a way for the council to work around a charter requirement that requires appropriations of more than 1.5% of the budget to be a separate referendum question. As has happened frequently this year, Wong and Mahon clashed during the June 9 discussion. She'd previously announced a two-minute time limit on his remarks, and then interrupted him mid-sentence to announce that another councilor now had the floor. Mahon and Wong talked over each other for the next 30 seconds, with Mahon insisting she'd cut him off too early and Wong demanding he stop. The meeting devolved into a raucous discussion between councilmen about whether to simply adjourn. Even though Mahon helped the petition drive to force a referendum on the budget, the lawsuit names him as a defendant along with each of the other council members, Wong and the town itself. Town Manager Alvin Schwapp Jr. and the town clerk are also listed as defendants. Bloomfield-centered community pages have seen frequent posts since early May complaining about the budget and the looming tax increase. Several commentors have defended Wong and her administration, but others have complained there's a pattern of high-handedness at Bloomfield town hall. 'They were given multiple opportunities to do the right thing, but they chose to ignore the will of the people,' James Biffer, a frequent critic of the administration, wrote soon after the suit was filed Wednesday. 'So now, there are consequences for those decisions.' The referendum itself passed, but narrowly and only because of an unusual charter requirement that 15% of all eligible voters must vote 'no' to reject it. The overall vote was 1,934 'against' and just 494 'for,' a four-to-one landslide. But opponents fell short of the 15% figure, so the budget was approved. Wong has said she's leaving when this term ends in November, and Democrats over the next few weeks are interviewing candidates for the council ballot going into the November election.

San Francisco Chronicle​

an hour ago

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Malaysian court drops money laundering charges against jailed ex-leader Najib Razak

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian court dropped three money laundering charges against jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday, in a case linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of a state fund. Najib was previously convicted in a graft case tied to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund, or 1MBD, and began serving time in 2022, after losing his final appeal. He also faces other graft trials. The High Court's decision to drop the charges alleging Najib received 27 million ringgit ($6.3 million) in illegal proceeds to his bank accounts came after procedural delays by the prosecution, which saw the case dragging on for six years, Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said. Prosecutors could not give the court a timeline for when they will be ready for the trial, he added. Prosecutors reserve the right to revive charges against Najib and a discharge does not mean an acquittal, Shafee said. But, Najib was happy and can now focus on the main 1MDB trial, he added. Najib set up 1MDB shortly after taking power in 2009. Investigators allege that more than $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by his associates to finance Hollywood films and extravagant purchases. The scandal upended Najib's government and he was defeated in the 2018 election. Last November, the High Court also discharged Najib and the former treasury chief in another 1MDB-linked corruption case after repeated delays by the prosecution. The pair can still be charged for the same offence in the future. In 2023, Najib was acquitted on separate charges of tampering with a government audit into 1MDB. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail in his first graft trial but the sentence was halved by the Pardon Boards in 2024. Najib alleged the board had issued a home arrest order for him to complete his sentence at home, but the case is still being heard in court. Najib awaits his verdict in another key case that ties him directly to the 1MDB scandal, which has prompted investigations in the U.S. and several other countries. The defense in May closed their case on four charges of abuse of power to obtain over $700 million from 1MDB that went into Najib's bank accounts, and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount. Closing arguments are scheduled in October, after which the court will set a date for verdict.

Associated Press

an hour ago

• Associated Press

Tencent Cloud Empowers Ryde to Elevate In-App Communication in Southeast Asia

HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESS Newswire / June 20, 2025 / Tencent Cloud,the cloud business of global leading technology company Tencent, today announced a strategic partnership with Ryde Group Ltd (NYSE American: RYDE) ('Ryde' or the 'Company'), a technology company with a leading platform for mobility and quick commerce in Singapore, to elevate in-app communication for ride-hailing services in Southeast Asia. By integrating Tencent Real-Time Communication (TRTC) technology powered by Tencent Cloud, along with WeChat Mini Program, Ryde is enhancing driver and rider interactions with ultra-low latency, secure, and seamless communication directly within its platform. As Ryde expanded its user base and platform capabilities, the limitations of traditional telecom-based communication systems have become evident. Reliance on third-party number masking added unnecessary complexity, increased operational costs, and failed to meet the expectations of a mobile-first, digitally savvy audience. To maintain its competitive edge, Ryde sought a cutting-edge, cloud-native solution to ensure secure, real-time communication, protect user privacy, and optimize operational efficiency. With its proven global leadership in real-time communication infrastructure, powering platforms like Weixin/WeChat, QQ, and PUBG, Tencent Cloud's ultra-low latency solution, carrier-grade stability, and seamless integration capabilities aligned perfectly with Ryde's vision of building a future-ready mobility platform. Enhancing Mobility with Tencent Cloud's Real-Time Technology As one of the powerful solutions under Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), TRTC is renowned for its carrier-grade stability, ultra-low latency architecture, and seamless integration into mobile-first environments. By leveraging this solution, Ryde can replace traditional telecom methods with a scalable, secure, and cost-effective in-app solution, ensuring seamless voice interactions between riders and driver-partners. Beyond core infrastructure, Ryde also benefited from Tencent Cloud's comprehensive offerings, including scalable support for user demand, robust security compliant with international standards, improved performance with minimized latency, and access to AI and analytics for smarter pricing and customer engagement. Driving Long-Term Digital Mobility Transformation in Southeast Asia The partnership between Ryde and Tencent Cloud marks a strategic alliance between two growth-oriented platforms committed to advancing high-impact digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia. This collaboration is grounded in a shared vision to unlock value in rapidly evolving sectors such as urban mobility, platform-as-a-service, and AI-powered digital solutions. For Tencent Cloud, this partnership aligns with its regional expansion goals and strengthens its role in enabling super-app ecosystems. By offering scalable, secure infrastructure and advanced solutions like TRTC, Tencent Cloud is deepening its presence in the fast-growing mobility sector, with Ryde as a key partner. For Ryde, the collaboration accelerates its product development, enhances platform reliability, and drives operational efficiency-crucial factors as it expands into new areas including ride-hailing, deliveries, payments, and sustainable mobility. Tencent Cloud's robust ecosystem empowers Ryde to deliver exceptional user experiences while maintaining cost efficiency and technical agility. Kenneth Siow, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and General Manager for Singapore & Malaysia at Tencent Cloud International, said, 'We are thrilled to partner with Ryde in transforming the ride-hailing communication experience across Southeast Asia. By integrating our Real-Time Communication (TRTC) technology, we enable seamless, secure, and ultra-low latency interactions within the Ryde platform. This collaboration underscores Tencent Cloud's commitment to empowering innovative companies with cutting-edge cloud solutions that enhance user experiences and drive operational efficiency. Together, we are establishing a long-term strategic foundation to capture emerging revenue opportunities, optimize margins through advanced infrastructure, and future-proof our platforms in Southeast Asia's rapidly evolving digital economy.' Nitin Dolli, CTO at Ryde Group, said, 'Our partnership with Tencent Cloud is more than a technological upgrade-it is a transformative step that accelerates Ryde's evolution beyond ride-hailing into a comprehensive regional super-app. Leveraging Tencent Cloud's robust TRTC technology, we have further enhanced the communication experience for both riders and driver-partners, while upholding the highest standards of privacy, security, and scalability. We believe this collaboration strengthens our competitive edge and reaffirms our commitment to delivering smarter, more seamless solutions for our users.' In addition to TRTC implementation, Tencent Cloud and Rydeare jointly exploring new opportunities with WeChat Mini Program in areas such as AI-driven fleet optimization, intelligent dispatch systems, and green mobility analytics-initiatives designed to boost operational performance and support scalable, long-term growth. About Tencent Cloud: Tencent Cloud, one of the world's leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation. About Ryde Group Ltd: Ryde, a homegrown super mobility app founded in Singapore, is the world's FIRST on-demand carpooling app since 2014! As a publicly listed company on the NYSE American, we are reimagining the way people and goods move around. We offer a full suite of services, including carpooling, private hire, taxi, and delivery, but what truly sets us apart is our commitment to empower our private-hire and taxi partners. We take 0% commission, ensuring that more of every hard-earned dollar goes to driver-partners on our platform. For more information, please visit to learn more. Media Contact Melody Huang Tencent Cloud [email protected] Andy Miu Current Global [email protected] +852 2533 9908 Media Team Ryde Group Ltd [email protected] Investor Relations Ryde Group Ltd [email protected] FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Ryde Group Ltd specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Ryde Group press release