Court calls for defense of Najib in RM2.27b 1MDB trial against corruption and money laundering

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial for corruption and money laundering involving RM2.27 billion of 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s RM2.27 billion will continue as the High Court ordered him today to defend themselves in this case.

Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the prosecution had managed to prove a prima facie case on all 25 charges in the 1MDB trial against Najib.

This means that the former finance minister will not be acquitted of the charges against him.

The 71-year-old Najib was given three choices: remain silent; become his own defense witness and testify under oath from the witness stand; or give an unsworn statement from the dock.

He chose to testify from the witness stand on all 21 money laundering charges.

Najib was charged six years ago in September 2018 with four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering related to 1MDB’s RM2.27 billion, including more than RM2 billion allegedly deposited into his personal bank accounts.

Najib is currently a prisoner as he was convicted in a separate trial over the RM42 million from ex-1MDB unit SRC International Sdn Bhd.

His 12-year prison sentence and a RM210 million fine in that SRC case were reduced to six years’ imprisonment and a RM50 million fine by the Federal Territories Pardons Board earlier this year.

Supporters of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gather outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court on October 30, 2024. — Photo by Yusof Mat Isa

At around 8am, at least 50 of Najib’s supporters were seen gathering outside the court complex here and were heard shouting: “Bebas Bossku!” short.

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