KUALA LUMPUR, 30 OCT – The High Court here today is the focus of many people who want to know the outcome of a high-profile case involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is facing charges related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
Najib, 71, will know whether he is ordered to defend himself or acquitted of four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is currently a Court of Appeal Judge, is scheduled to read the decision at 9am.
Media practitioners from various news agencies gathered at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex since 7 this morning to cover the case.
Najib faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon, between February 14, 2011 and December 19, 2014.
Najib was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act.
The former finance minister faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of either five times the value involved or RM10,000 or whichever is higher, if convicted.
For the 21 charges of money laundering, Najib is alleged to have committed the offense at the same bank between March 22, 2013 and August 30, 2013.
The charge was made under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if convicted.
Najib is currently serving his sentence in Kajang Prison since 23 August 2022 after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. – Named
