Latest news with #formerPrimeMinister
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Malaysian court drops money laundering charges against jailed ex-leader Najib Razak
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.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Malaysia drops 1MDB-related money laundering charges against ex-PM Najib, report says
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Reuters) - A Malaysian court has granted jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in a 27 million ringgit ($6.4 million) money laundering case involving a former unit of scandal-tainted state fund 1MDB, state news agency Bernama reported on Friday. ($1 = 4.2470 ringgit)
Malay Mail
13-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘He applied, I approved': Anwar says of RM486,000 Japan trip bill for Dr Mahathir
MELAKA, June 13 — The government bears almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir. 'There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)...and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people. 'I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand...I just don't want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,' Anwar told reporters here yesterday. On May 30, Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, a platform he has regularly attended over the years. On separate development, Anwar said he is giving time to two Cabinet ministers who recently submitted resignation letters, encouraging them to reconsider their decisions. The Prime Minister said he received the letters from the two ministers applying for leave and resignation, but he had only approved the leave for now. '...Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they rejoin the Cabinet,' he said. The ministers in question – Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad – reportedly submitted their resignations following defeats in recent party elections. The Prime Minister was met after attending an organisational empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders here today. Also present were two PKR vice-presidents Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. During the seminar, Anwar called on PKR members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following the party polls last also stressed the need for unity and maturity for the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this – I can work with Umno, even hugging it out. Surely we can move past our internal disagreements too. Let's move on for the bigger agenda,' he added. — Bernama
Malay Mail
13-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘He applied, I approved': Anwar says of RM486,000 Japan trip bill for Dr M
MELAKA, June 13 — The government bears almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir. 'There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)...and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people. 'I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand...I just don't want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,' Anwar told reporters here yesterday. On May 30, Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, a platform he has regularly attended over the years. On separate development, Anwar said he is giving time to two Cabinet ministers who recently submitted resignation letters, encouraging them to reconsider their decisions. The Prime Minister said he received the letters from the two ministers applying for leave and resignation, but he had only approved the leave for now. '...Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they rejoin the Cabinet,' he said. The ministers in question – Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad – reportedly submitted their resignations following defeats in recent party elections. The Prime Minister was met after attending an organisational empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders here today. Also present were two PKR vice-presidents Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. During the seminar, Anwar called on PKR members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following the party polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity for the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this – I can work with Umno, even hugging it out. Surely we can move past our internal disagreements too. Let's move on for the bigger agenda,' he added. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt spent RM486,000 on Dr M's Japan trip, says Anwar
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad discussed key regional and global issues at the Nikkei Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 30. (Facebook pic) MELAKA : The government covered nearly half a million ringgit in expenses for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Mahathir. He explained that there were provisions which allowed former prime ministers to apply for government support for official travel. The government will grant the application if it is approved by the sitting prime minister. 'He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation comprised around seven people,' Anwar told reporters here. 'I have people asking me why we (the government) paid for him. He is entitled to apply… and I decided to approve RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand (this) or have a negative perception. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application.' Anwar was speaking to reporters after an empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders. On May 30, Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, an event he had regularly attended over the years. In a Facebook post on May 31, the 99-year-old reflected on his long participation in the forum, which he said he had attended almost every year since its inception 30 years ago.
