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Arab News
13 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Malaysian court drops money laundering charges against jailed former leader Najib Razak
KUALA LUMPUR: 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 offense 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 US 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.
Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Straits Times
Vietnamese woman helped sister sell bank accounts to scammers, earning up to $700 apiece
Despite suspecting that the accounts would likely be used for illicit activities from the onset, Nguyen Lan Dung agreed to the arrangement. Andrew Wong The Straits Times June 19, 2025 Lured by the promise of money, a woman decided to take up her sister's offer to obtain bank accounts and cards in exchange for payment. Despite suspecting that the accounts would likely be used for illicit activities from the onset, Nguyen Lan Dung, 24, agreed to the arrangement. On June 19, the Vietnamese national was sentenced to 10 months' jail after pleading guilty to three charges under the Computer Misuse Act, and one under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. Eleven charges of a similar nature were taken into consideration during the sentencing. Dung was also fined $1,700. Investigations revealed that after Dung agreed to the arrangement, she reached out to a man to say she knew people who would pay him for control of his bank account. Court documents do not reveal how investigations into Dung and her sister started. Sometime in March 2024, the man agreed and gave up his bank details and the corresponding physical ATM card. Dung handed over the card and login details to her sister and her sister's boyfriend, and was paid $700. Court documents stated that the man's bank account and ATM card were later found to be linked to extortion scams, and were used to transact a flow of scam proceeds. Under the arrangement, Dung would also act as the point of contact for other Vietnamese nationals who were willing to sell their bank accounts. She would earn between $500 and $700 for each bank account she helped to procure. Sometime in March 2024, she managed to obtain two different bank accounts from two Vietnamese nationals. Court documents do not reveal how Dung had managed to contact the two. Around the same period, Dung, along with her sister and her sister's boyfriend, arranged to sell 11 bank accounts to unknown persons. Dung's sister, Nguyen Huong Giang, remains on the run from Singapore. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Jail for woman who helped sister to obtain bank accounts, ATM cards for use in scams
Despite suspecting that the accounts would likely be used for illicit activities from the onset, Nguyen Lan Dung agreed to the arrangement. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG Jail for woman who helped sister to obtain bank accounts, ATM cards for use in scams SINGAPORE – Lured by the promise of money, a woman decided to take up her sister's offer to obtain bank accounts and cards in exchange for payment. Despite suspecting that the accounts would likely be used for illicit activities from the onset, Nguyen Lan Dung, 24, agreed to the arrangement. On June 19, the Vietnamese national was sentenced to 10 months' jail after pleading guilty to three charges under the Computer Misuse Act, and one under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. Eleven charges of a similar nature were taken into consideration during the sentencing. Dung was also fined $1,700. Investigations revealed that after Dung agreed to the arrangement, she reached out to a man to say she knew people who would pay him for control of his bank account. Court documents do not reveal how investigations into Dung and her sister started. Sometime in March 2024, the man agreed and gave up his bank details and the corresponding physical ATM card. Dung handed over the card and login details to her sister and her sister's boyfriend, and was paid $700. Court documents stated that the man's bank account and ATM card were later found to be linked to extortion scams, and were used to transact a flow of scam proceeds. Under the arrangement, Dung would also act as the point of contact for other Vietnamese nationals who were willing to sell their bank accounts. She would earn between $500 and $700 for each bank account she helped to procure. Sometime in March 2024, she managed to obtain two different bank accounts from two Vietnamese nationals. Court documents do not reveal how Dung had managed to contact the two. Around the same period, Dung, along with her sister and her sister's boyfriend, arranged to sell 11 bank accounts to unknown persons. Dung's sister, Nguyen Huong Giang, remains on the run from Singapore. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Jail for Vietnamese woman who helped sister to obtain bank accounts, ATM cards for use in scams
Despite suspecting that the accounts would likely be used for illicit activities from the onset, Nguyen Lan Dung agreed to the arrangement. - Photo: ST SINGAPORE: Lured by the promise of money, a woman decided to take up her sister's offer to obtain bank accounts and cards in exchange for payment. Despite suspecting that the accounts would likely be used for illicit activities from the onset, Nguyen Lan Dung, 24, agreed to the arrangement. On Thursday (June 19), the Vietnamese national was sentenced to 10 months' jail after pleading guilty to three charges under the Computer Misuse Act, and one under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. Eleven charges of a similar nature were taken into consideration during the sentencing. Dung was also fined S$1,700. Investigations revealed that after Dung agreed to the arrangement, she reached out to a man to say she knew people who would pay him for control of his bank account. Court documents do not reveal how investigations into Dung and her sister started. Sometime in March 2024, the man agreed and gave up his bank details and the corresponding physical ATM card. Dung handed over the card and login details to her sister and her sister's boyfriend, and was paid $700. Court documents stated that the man's bank account and ATM card were later found to be linked to extortion scams, and were used to transact a flow of scam proceeds. Under the arrangement, Dung would also act as the point of contact for other Vietnamese nationals who were willing to sell their bank accounts. She would earn between $500 and $700 for each bank account she helped to procure. Sometime in March 2024, she managed to obtain two different bank accounts from two Vietnamese nationals. Court documents do not reveal how Dung had managed to contact the two. Around the same period, Dung, along with her sister and her sister's boyfriend, arranged to sell 11 bank accounts to unknown persons. Dung's sister, Nguyen Huong Giang, remains on the run from Singapore. - The Straits Times/ANN
Singapore Law Watch
12-06-2025
- Singapore Law Watch
Drug trafficker, 58, avoids death penalty by 0.01g, sentenced to 31 years' jail
Drug trafficker, 58, avoids death penalty by 0.01g, sentenced to 31 years' jail Source: Straits Times Article Date: 12 Jun 2025 Author: David Sun Mesnawi Dahri was caught while in possession of not less than 14.99g of diamorphine, or 'pure heroin', for the purpose of trafficking. A 58-year-old man has been sentenced to 31 years' jail over drug trafficking offences that saw him avoid the death penalty by 0.01g. Mesnawi Dahri was caught while in possession of not less than 14.99g of diamorphine, or 'pure heroin', for the purpose of trafficking. He was originally charged with possessing at least 15g of diamorphine for the purpose of trafficking, according to court documents. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) state on its website that 15g of pure heroin is equivalent to 1,250 straws, which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week. The death penalty is mandatory for anyone found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of diamorphine or 250g of methamphetamine or more than 500g of cannabis. The charge was later reclassified and changed to him possessing not less than 14.99g of diamorphine for the purpose of trafficking, with a maximum sentence of 30 years' jail or life imprisonment, court documents showed. Mesnawi pleaded guilty to a total of four charges on June 3. Three were for drug offences and the fourth was for money laundering. Two other drug charges were taken into account for sentencing. He was sentenced to 31 years' jail, which includes 10 weeks for the money laundering charge under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. CNB officers arrested Mesnawi in Ang Mo Kio on Jan 27, 2023. About 713g of heroin and four Ecstasy tablets were seized from him. He also had $18,050 in cash, which were his benefits from his drug trafficking activities. The money has been forfeited to the state. In a statement on June 11, CNB said the Government will continue to review and enhance laws to ensure they remain effective in addressing the evolving crime landscape, and are aligned with international standards. Those who launder the benefits of drug dealing can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $500,000. Mesnawi, who was unrepresented, has filed an appeal against his sentence. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
