Latest news with #Prosecution
Arab News
12 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.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Diddy's defense team signals shift in trial strategy as prosecutors wrap up: expert
Prosecutors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial indicated Tuesday they'd rest their case before the end of the week, nearly six weeks after the trial began. The rapper's legal team recently told Judge Arun Subramanian it will need between two and five days to present its case, a stark contrast to its initial request of up to two weeks with witnesses on the stand. A change in timelines for the defense may signify Diddy's lawyers found "some weaknesses" in the government's case, according to New York-based attorney Nicole Brenecki. "The defense can change the amount of time allocated for their presentation of the case," Brenecki told Fox News Digital. "This current change is likely based on the defense's observation of some weaknesses in the prosecution's case. We have to keep in mind that the burden of proof rests on the prosecution. "Given that the jurors can see the case as mostly based on testimony by disgruntled ex-girlfriends and ex-employees, they may not be inclined to convict Diddy of essentially forming a criminal enterprise to commit crimes across state lines, which is a summary of the definitions of the crimes he is accused of. "Criminal court, as opposed to the court of public opinion, requires a strict application of the facts to the definition of the crime, and the prosecution may lose if the jury disagrees with them as to this application." In a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17, Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. "The defense does not have to put on a case at all," New York-based Attorney David Schwartz told Fox News Digital. "It is up to the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, and the defendant gets every presumption of innocence. So, in many cases, the defense does not put on a case at all. "By putting on no case or a short case, the defense is emphasizing that the prosecution did not meet its burden. "The last thing you want to do as a defense attorney is to shift the burden by putting on a long case. The burden never shifts, but the longer the case the defense puts on, the more juries forget about the burden, which is bad." Los Angeles litigator John J. Perlstein noted that the time line of two to five days requested by the defense is nothing uncommon. "Two to five days is the usual amount of trial time the defense needs in criminal cases, and I suspect it will be closer to two in this case," Perlstein told Fox News Digital. "The defense will typically overestimate the time needed to account for witness availability and/or the examination of new evidence. "Given the complexity of the case and its media attention, it is likely the defense padded the time in order to account for any and all unknowns." In court Tuesday, the judge reprimanded lawyers for both sides for violating the court's sealing order by allegedly speaking to the media about the trial. He reminded the parties that the defense requested the gag order. Judge Subramanian added that a violation of that order could result in contempt charges. The jury was then seemingly shown videos of "freak offs" between Diddy, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and a male escort. The screen for exhibits was shut off and the witness, Special Agent DeLeassa Penland, and the jurors were given headphones to watch some videos from Oct. 14, 2012. At one point, the sound from the videos was audible in the courtroom. The court fixed the problem by making sure headsets that were not in use were turned off and away from any mics. Diddy's defense lawyer, Teny Geragos, played several minutes of videos for the jury. Geragos then played clips of videos from December 2014. While the videos were being played, Diddy sat at the defense table, occasionally tapping his fingers on his legs. The clips were played for about 30 minutes. WATCH: SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN HOTEL HALLWAY During Penland's cross-examination, the jury was shown text messages between Cassie and Diddy about the "freak offs." There was a text message from Diddy to Cassie dated September 2014 asking what she wanted to do. Cassie then sent a screenshot of a message from a male escort named Keith, who they knew from the website Cowboys for Angels, asking if she was in town. Cassie wrote to Diddy, "I want to make love and drink wine…whatever makes my love happy." Combs responded, "Why did you show me the Keith thing?" She replied, "Because I never show you…" Diddy asked if she wanted to have a "freak off." In a later message, Diddy asked, "Wanna freak off for the last time?" Cassie responded, "I wanna freak-off for the rest of our lives." The "Last Night" rapper has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, in which witnesses have testified to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The trial is expected to wrap up by July 4.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jurors Watched Diddy's 'Freak-Off' Tapes In Court As Sex Sounds Bled Through Headphones
Jurors in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial were confronted with disturbing and explicit footage on Monday (June 16), as prosecutors presented a series of short video clips allegedly recorded during the infamous 'freak-off' sex sessions. Per New York Times, the videos — sealed from the public but viewed privately by the jury using headphones and privacy-screened monitors — reportedly featured encounters involving Diddy and ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura. Captured in 2012 and 2014, the clips were sourced from digital devices Ventura turned over to federal investigators amid her abuse claims against the Hip-Hop mogul. In earlier testimony, Ventura described the 'freak-offs' as coercive and emotionally scarring 'sex marathons' that she agreed to under coercion. She detailed how Diddy would orchestrate the encounters, instructing her on what to do with male escorts while he watched, filmed, and/or pleasured himself nearby. She claimed these sessions weren't just lived-out fantasies but tools of control as Diddy allegedly often recorded and weaponized the session with threats of exposure whenever she displeased him. While the prosecution emphasized the non-consensual nature of these encounters, the defense team painted a different picture. They called the explicit footage 'powerful evidence' of consensual sex between adults, arguing that no one involved was forced or trafficked. Diddy has also pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to reports, several jurors appeared visibly stunned as they watched the footage, with some removing their headsets in discomfort. Perceived sex sounds were reportedly audible, bleeding through the headphones as the clips played. Prosecutors also shared a series of text and audio messages allegedly involving Diddy's former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, whom they describe as a key player in organizing the 'freak-offs.' Though she has yet to testify, Khorram has been cited as the 55-year-old's 'right hand' and a facilitator of his alleged sexual behavior. Evidence of the latter was introduced in court through messages where Khorram allegedly arranged for Diddy's luxury hotel suites to be stocked with items like baby oil, drugs, Gatorade, and even chicken noodle soup. In one 2016 exchange, she also allegedly directed an assistant to deliver $4,000 in cash to Diddy's hotel, moving prosecutors to argue that there was a network that supported the alleged sexual exploitation taking place. Diddy's legal team, however, insists that 'freak-offs' were not a criminal operation and that no witness will credibly claim to have been part of a racketeering enterprise. 'There was not one,' she said of the alleged conspiracy, pushing back against what she calls 'selective outrage and misinterpreted logistics.' The father-of-seven was arrested in October 2024 at the Park Hyatt in Manhattan and remains in custody. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison. More from Cassie Remembers Heating Up Baby Oil For Diddy During 'Freak-Offs' Suge Knight Explains Why He Thinks Diddy's Peers "From The '90s" Are Silent About The Sex Trafficking Trial Diddy Plans To Seek Mistrial After Black Juror Was Removed From Sex Trafficking Trial
Arab News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Philippines' former leader Duterte seeks interim release from ICC
MANILA: Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's defense team at the International Criminal Court has filed a motion for his interim release to an unnamed country, stating the prosecution would not 80-year-old stands accused of crimes against humanity over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed a filing posted to the court's website late Thursday, defense lawyers said the involved country – the name of which was redacted – had expressed its 'principled agreement to receive onto its territory.'ICC prosecutors have agreed not to oppose the request, according to the filing, which said discussions about an interim release had been under way since Duterte's first court appearance at The Hague on March 14.'The Prosecution has confirmed its non-opposition to interim release to (REDACTED) (REDACTED) State Party' as long as certain conditions were met, the filing annex spelling out the conditions for Duterte's release was not publicly available, but the defense team's filing noted that the octogenarian posed no flight risk and cited humanitarian concerns around his representing relatives of those killed in Duterte's drug war condemned the application for release, citing threats made against victims' families, and saying they had legal avenues to oppose it.'There is still a procedure within the ICC that requires the prosecution to comment and the ICC Pre Trial Chamber (PTC) to decide on the application for provisional release,' lawyer Neri Colmenares said in a an interview with local radio, lawyer Kristina Conti said she believed it was '50-50' the former president would be released.'I hope the (drug war) victims can weigh in but that would be difficult if (the release is based on) humanitarian grounds, and he is reportedly sick,' she was arrested in Manila on March 11, flown to the Netherlands that same night and has been held at the ICC's detention unit at Scheveningen Prison deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang is currently overseeing the case against Duterte after Karim Khan stepped aside during an investigation into alleged sexual for comment sent to the ICC prosecutor's office were not immediately returned.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
DuPage state's attorney launches new Animal Protection Unit
The DuPage County state's attorney's office is launching a new Animal Protection Unit, officials announced. Comprised of a team of specially trained prosecutors, it will be focused on enhancing prosecutions of crimes committed against animals. 'This issue has been a priority for me for a long time,' State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. 'I'm grateful that we have the resources to implement a unit like this because I just think it's so good for our community and our county.' His office has seen an increase in animal cruelty cases, owner neglect cases and in the number of petitions it has had to file in civil court seeking forfeiture of animals because of cruelty or neglect, he said. As of Friday, about 35 cases concerning animal cruelty, violations of the Illinois Animal Control Act or animal endangerment were pending. 'Rather than have these cases spread out amongst different prosecutors, because they're so important … in the community, I thought that we should have a specialized unit made up of a small group of prosecutors who are trained in these cases (and) have a specialty (so) they can really handle them from start to finish,' Berlin said. The unit will partner with law enforcement agencies and DuPage County Animal Services — as well as the community — to provide a comprehensive, focused approach to prosecuting local animal cruelty cases, according to the state's attorney's office. Further, the unit will also provide additional legal protections for those at risk of domestic violence, which can be linked to animal abuse, a news release on the new team said. A few years ago, the Urban Resource Institute and the National Domestic Violence Hotline conducted a survey of nearly 2,500 people focused on how domestic violence affects survivors with pets and their families. Among respondents, 37% said their abuser had threatened to harm or kill a pet and 29% said the abuser had actually harmed or killed pets, per a 2021 report of survey results. Just last week, a Naperville man was sentenced to prison after beating his family's dog to death following an argument with his partner. Alongside prosecution, the new Animal Protection Unit will engage in public outreach and education efforts to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership, animal welfare laws and available resources for those who need help with animal care, per the state's attorney's office. Berlin said he's hoping the unit will be able to participate in school education programs as well as train police and animal control officers across the county so local authorities are also better equipped to handle these kinds of cases. Training would include what to look for, information on animal cruelty laws, investigative techniques and appropriate handling of animals during seizures, he said. 'Hopefully, by prosecuting defendants for these crimes (and) holding them accountable, we're going to do two things: we're going to remove violent offenders from the street, and we're going to deter others from doing the same thing,' Berlin said. 'And that makes the community safer. 'Just like children and just like seniors, our animals are some of our most vulnerable victims. They can't speak for themselves. We have to speak for them.' tkenny@
