By tf-lawyer.com On October 24, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been serving time in prison for the past 26 months, issued a statement through his eldest son, Nizar. In the statement, he offered an unconditional apology to the Malaysian people for his responsibilities regarding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. However, he maintained his innocence, asserting that he should not be seen as a “victim of the law.”
Najib expressed that the events surrounding the 1MDB scandal during his tenure as Prime Minister and Finance Minister have caused him profound pain on a daily basis. He claimed that he was unaware of any misappropriation of funds from 1MDB, did not receive any money from these misappropriated funds, and did not interfere in the investigations into 1MDB.
He noted that when 1MDB came under scrutiny, he took steps to investigate but chose to trust the explanations given by the company’s board and management.
1MDB, a state investment fund established during Najib’s administration, has been at the center of multiple charges against him, including money laundering, abuse of power, and breach of trust. The charges are primarily linked to 1MDB and its subsidiaries, including SRC International, which is one of its subsidiaries. In August 2022, the SRC International case became the first to reach a final verdict in Najib’s legal woes, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 210 million Malaysian Ringgit (approximately 48 million USD). In February of this year, Malaysia’s Federal Territories Pardons Board decided to reduce Najib’s prison term to six years and his fine to 50 million Ringgit.
Local media have indicated that several lawsuits related to Najib are set to unfold before the end of the year. On October 30, the Kuala Lumpur High Court is expected to rule on whether Najib’s alleged money laundering and abuse of power offenses related to 1MDB have been established. Additionally, after the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected his application for home detention in July, the Malaysian Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear Najib’s appeal on that matter by the end of the year.
