Latest news with #Najib
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Najib relieved after court grants DNAA
With this, he said Najib can now concentrate fully on the 1MDB case. By NOOR AZLIDA ALIMIN 20 Jun 2025 05:14pm Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak seen at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex. - Bernama file photo KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is relieved to be free from yet another legal burden after the High Court granted him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. His lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, confirmed the development on Friday, stating Najib is relieved to have fewer cases weighing on him, particularly after multiple previous requests for a DNAA. The High Court here today granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. - Bernama file photo With this, he said Najib can now concentrate fully on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case. The High Court allowed the DNAA application filed on June 11. The decision followed Najib's failed bid to have the charges dropped after the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) rejected his representation on July 31, 2023. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul had initially requested the court to set a new date for trial. However, Shafee again pressed for a DNAA, pointing out that the case had been ongoing since 2019 with over six years of delays. When asked about the possibility of an appeal, Shafee clarified that the deputy public prosecutor cannot challenge the decision, as the prosecution retains the option to pursue the case again once they are prepared. 'Of course, we hope they do not, because this case has already prejudiced against Najib. So I hope the Attorney General will use his discretion and authority to close the case,' he said. Najib was charged on Feb 3, 2019, with receiving RM27 million from illegal proceeds through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts at AmIslamic Bank, Jalan Raja Chulan, on July 8, 2014. The charges were brought under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which carries a maximum of five years in prison, a RM5 million fine, or both, upon conviction. Despite this discharge, Najib continues to serve his sentence at Kajang Prison for misappropriating RM42 million from the same SRC International fund. He began serving his sentence on Aug 23, 2022. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine, which were upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court. However, a royal pardon petition filed on Sept 2, 2022, led to the Pardons Board reducing his sentence to six years and the fine to RM50 million.
The Star
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
'Inexcusable': AGC must answer for repeated DNAAs in high-profile corruption cases, says C4
PETALING JAYA: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) must be held accountable for its repeated failures in a number of high-profile court cases that have ended in a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), says the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4). It said the recent pattern of flawed prosecutions involving political figures that ended in a DNAA showcased a possible significant deep-rooted institutional incompetence within the prosecutorial office. 'These are not normal criminal cases; they implicate corruption involving some of the most powerful political figures in the country, and as such, should be treated with the highest priority. 'It is inexcusable that DNAAs keep being granted on the basis that the AGC had failed to adhere to basic procedures, which are part of any criminal prosecution. 'Not only were they simply not prepared for this case that has been in progress for 6 years, they did not even object to the DNAA,' it said in a press statement on Friday (June 20). This comes after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted a DNAA for three counts of money laundering involving RM27mil linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd by the High Court on Friday (June 20). C4 said Najib's newest DNAA joins a long list of recent similar failures by the AGC in court, including Najib and former treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah being granted a DNAA in the RM6.6bil criminal breach of trust case linked to payments to the International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) in November last year. Another recent high-profile case involved Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was granted a DNAA for all 47 graft charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds on Sept 4, 2023. C4 also questioned the lack of any attempts by the AGC to publicly address its repeated failures in high-profile court cases, adding that it was sowing public distrust in the government and judiciary. 'Why have there been no public attempts to remedy this or address these prosecutorial failures? 'This lack of accountability only serves to deepen public distrust, erode confidence in the rule of law, and reinforce the perception that justice in Malaysia is neither independent nor equal,' it added. It also called on the AGC to publicly commit to refiling the charges for all cases where political figures have received a DNAA as soon as possible.
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Malaysian court drops money laundering charges against jailed ex-PM 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 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 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.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Malaysian court drops money laundering charges against jailed ex-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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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 defence 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.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
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.
