Malaysia Court Dismisses One Charge Against Ex-PM Najib Razak in 1MDB Corruption Case

Malaysia’s Court Cancels One Charge Against Najib Razak in 1MDB Scandal

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – A Malaysian court has dropped one of several charges against former Prime Minister Najib Razak related to the 1MDB corruption scandal. Najib led Malaysia from 2009 to 2018 and now serves time in prison for a scheme that cost the country about $4.5 billion (around Rp 71 trillion) between 2009 and 2014.

Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, stated, “The court has exercised its jurisdiction to free our client from the charges regarding a payment of 6.6 billion ringgit ($1.48 billion) allegedly made to Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company.” This statement was made to AFP on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

The lawyer emphasized that this decision was based on the non-disclosure of key documents over the six years since the original charges were levied, which are crucial for preparing Najib’s defense.

In October, Najib apologized. He acknowledged that the 1MDB scandal occurred while he was in office but claimed he was unaware of any illegal transfers from the now-defunct national fund.

The allegations suggest that billions were embezzled from 1MDB and used to purchase luxury items, such as yachts and artworks. This scandal led to Najib’s removal from office and the downfall of the long-ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) during the 2018 elections.

The 1MDB case has prompted investigations in the United States, Switzerland, and Singapore, where funds were allegedly laundered.

The Abu Dhabi case is one of five against Najib. At 71, he was convicted in August 2022 and sentenced to 12 years in prison, although his sentence was later reduced by half by Malaysia’s pardon board.

In April 2025, Najib will face a new trial related to money laundering involving 27 million ringgit.