PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Aug 23, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Malaysia's highest court
Tuesday upheld former prime minister Najib Razak's 12-year jail sentence for
corruption in the 1MDB financial scandal, a decision analysts said could slam
the door to a political comeback.
Najib's daughter-in-law Nur Sharmila Shaheen said the family was told he was
sent to Kajang Prison, located south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
"My father-in-law asked us to take care of the family. He remained strong and
calm," she said.
Federal Court chief justice Maimun Tuan Mat, speaking on behalf of a five-
judge panel, said the tribunal found Najib's "complaints as contained in the
petition of appeal devoid of any merit".
"On the totality of the evidence, we find the conviction of the appellant on
all seven charges safe. We also find that the sentence imposed is not
manifestly excessive," she added.
The appeals are "unanimously dismissed and the conviction and sentence are
affirmed", Maimun said.
The 69-year-old former prime minister looked somber and dejected, seated by
his wife Rosmah and two children as the verdict was read.
Journalists who were in an adjacent room watching the proceedings through
video link saw Najib surrounded by family members, friends and party mates
before the connection was cut off.
Outside the court, teary-eyed family members and supporters hugged each
other.
Earlier in the day when Najib arrived in court, around 300 supporters mobbed
his car chanting "bossku" -- "my boss" in Malay -- a rallying cry among his
defenders.
Just before the verdict was read, Najib, who had said he received an unfair
trial, made an impassioned plea asking for a two-month adjournment so he can
adequately prepare for a defence.
During a break in the proceedings, he spoke to supporters, telling them "if I
am guilty, please forgive me".
- Barred from elections –
Najib is the UK-educated son of one of Malaysia's founding fathers who had
been groomed for the prime minister's post from a young age.
The final ruling on the jail sentence also came four years after his long-
ruling party's shock election defeat in 2018, during which allegations he and
his friends embezzled billions of dollars from state fund 1MDB were key
campaign issues.
A lower court in July 2020 found Najib guilty of abuse of power, money
laundering and criminal breach of trust over the transfer of 42 million
ringgit ($10 million) from SRC International, a former unit of state fund
1MDB, to his personal bank account.
An appellate court in December denied his appeal, prompting him to go to the
Federal Court for a final recourse.
Some analysts said the decision will likely derail any plans by Najib for a
political comeback.
"Under Malaysian law, Najib cannot stand for this election and the next
election (if found guilty)," James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the
University of Tasmania, told AFP before the verdict was announced.
"Obviously, his political career is gone."
There has been speculation that polls may be held this year, though elections
are not due until September 2023.
But Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser for think-tank Pacific Research Center of
Malaysia, said one way out for Najib is to get the king's pardon.
"He could still apply for clemency (from the king)," he told AFP. "And if
pardoned, as many expect, he could easily mount a comeback as his
feudalistically minded supporters are numerous in number."
Oh said, however, that the current Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob -- who
belongs to the same United Malays National Organisation party -- must
recommend a pardon.
Najib and his ruling party were voted out in 2018 following allegations of
their involvement in a multibillion-dollar financial scandal at 1MDB.
He and his associates were accused of stealing billions of dollars from the
country's investment vehicle and spending it on everything from high-end real
estate to pricey art.