Latest news with #MuhammadShafee
Arab News
11 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.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Malaysia drops 1MDB-related money laundering charges against ex-PM Najib
By Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia's High Court has discharged but not acquitted jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak of money laundering charges in a long-running case involving a former unit of scandal-tainted state fund 1MDB, his lawyer said on Friday. Najib has been in prison since August 2022 after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering over funds misappropriated from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad, from which Malaysian and U.S. authorities say about $4.5 billion was stolen in a complex, globe-spanning scheme. He was also facing three separate money laundering charges over 27 million ringgit ($6.4 million) allegedly misappropriated from SRC. The case had repeatedly stalled since 2019 due to procedural delays, prompting the Kuala Lumpur High Court to grant Najib's request for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on Friday, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters. Muhammad Shafee said the decision was a fair one, as the prosecution remained free to re-file the charges once they were ready to proceed. "So (Najib) isn't left waiting or as they say, no longer has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head," he said. The attorney-general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Friday's decision was the second time 1MDB-linked charges filed against Najib have been dropped. Last year, a court allowed another DNAA request due to procedural delays in a corruption case against the ex-premier and the country's former treasury chief. In 2023, he was also acquitted on separate charges of tampering with a government audit into 1MDB. Najib is still awaiting a verdict in the biggest trial he faces over the 1MDB scandal, with the court expected to hear closing arguments in October. He has denied all of the charges brought against him. Najib is also bidding to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, and has sought to compel the government to confirm the existence of a royal order that he says would allow him to do so. ($1 = 4.2470 ringgit)
ABC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak discharged but not acquitted of money laundering charges
Malaysia's High Court has discharged but not acquitted former prime minister Najib Razak of money laundering charges. The long-running case involved a former unit of scandal-tainted state fund 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad), his lawyer said on Friday. Mr Najib had been in prison since August 2022 after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering over funds misappropriated from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. Malaysian and US authorities said about $US4.5 billion ($6.8 billion) was stolen in a complex, globe-spanning scheme. He was also facing three separate money laundering charges over 27 million ringgit ($9.8 million), allegedly misappropriated from SRC. The case had repeatedly stalled since 2019 due to procedural delays, prompting the Kuala Lumpur High Court to grant Mr Najib's request for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on Friday, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters. Muhammad Shafee said the decision was a fair one, as the prosecution remained free to re-file the charges once they were ready to proceed. The attorney-general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Friday's decision was the second time 1MDB-linked charges filed against Mr Najib have been dropped. Last year, a court allowed another DNAA request due to procedural delays in a corruption case against the ex-premier and the country's former treasury chief. In 2023, he was also acquitted on separate charges of tampering with a government audit into 1MDB. Mr Najib is still awaiting a verdict in the biggest trial he faces over the 1MDB scandal, with the court expected to hear closing arguments in October. He has denied all of the charges brought against him. Mr Najib is also bidding to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, and has sought to compel the government to confirm the existence of a royal order that he says would allow him to do so. Reuters
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Shafee: Najib ‘happy' over DNAA in stalled RM27m SRC case, relieved with fewer cases hanging over him now
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has expressed happiness over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in his final criminal case involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM27 million, despite still being a prisoner. Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah conveyed this to reporters when asked of the former's reaction to the latest development in court this morning. 'He is happy simply because there are not too many cases hanging over his head. He has been asking for a DNAA for some time. Now he can concentrate on the 1MDB case,' Muhammad Shafee said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex here. A DNAA means an accused person can face trial for the same charges in the future if the prosecution decides to reinstate them. In granting the DNAA order, High Court judge K. Muniandy said the rule of law was applicable to prevent such a detrimental situation whereby an accused person is saddled with criminal charges with no outcome for an indefinite and indeterminate period. Najib was previously charged in 2019 for the present case, but trial has been indefinitely postponed since then for a myriad of reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the final appeal of his RM42 million SRC International criminal case. The prosecution previously sought the court to grant a further extension to allow for the compilation of voluminous trial documents after indicating it was prepared to proceed with trial, following the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) recent rejection of a representation submitted by Najib two years ago. However, Muniandy said there was nothing to show that the case can be prosecuted expeditiously in the short future and that the likelihood of further postponement of the trial is inevitable. With today's DNAA, Najib has only the 1MDB trial still pending. Najib is currently imprisoned at the Kajang prison, as he is serving his jail term — now reduced to six years — after the Federal Court upheld his conviction in August 2022 over a separate criminal case involving SRC International Sdn Bhd's RM42 million. He was also previously acquitted over the removal of key information from the auditor-general's 2016 report on 1MDB; and granted a DNAA in his RM6.6 billion International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) criminal breach of trust case.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
AGC to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Muhammad Shafee
KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) will initiate contempt of court proceedings against prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over his public remarks likening proceedings at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to a 'Nazi Germany-style hearing'. It said the remarks, made in the context of an ongoing case, constituted a serious and improper attack on the dignity, authority, and independence of the judiciary. 'While lawyers are entitled to challenge judicial decisions through proper legal channels, making public statements that tarnish the image of the court or undermine public confidence in the administration of justice is unacceptable in our legal system. 'The Attorney General views this matter seriously as one that involves constitutional and institutional importance,' it said in a statement. The AGC emphasised that contempt proceedings will be pursued to uphold the rule of law, preserve the integrity of judicial processes as well as protect the judiciary from unfounded allegations and undue public pressure. The statement was issued in response to recent media reports and a statement by Messrs Shafee & Co today regarding the use of the term 'Nazi Germany' during a press conference held outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday (May 29). Muhammad Shafee reportedly responded to a journalist's question regarding a court order that temporarily stayed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's judicial review proceedings concerning the existence of an additional document that would allow him to serve the remaining six years of his prison sentence under house arrest.
