Malaysia drops 1MDB-related charges against former PM Najib, treasury official

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court on Wednesday (Nov 27) allowed the dismissal of corruption charges linked to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal filed against jailed former prime minister Najib Razak and his former treasury chief, their lawyers said.

Najib and former treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah were charged with breach of trust in 2018, accused of six offenses involving government funds worth 6.6 billion ringgit (US$1.48 billion). Officials said these were related to the settlement agreement between 1MDB and Abu Dhabi. sovereign fund International Petroleum Investment Company.

The two have consistently denied injustice.

His lawyers said the Kuala Lumpur High Court accepted his offer of release, which did not amount to an acquittal, due to procedural delays and the prosecution’s failure to disclose important documents.

“The court correctly exercised its authority to relieve our client of the charges in accordance with the law,” Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee said in a text message. he said.

A release that does not mean acquittal means that the prosecution will not file a lawsuit against the defendant for now, but may do so in the future.

The judge said the court’s decision did not “prejudice” the prosecution as they could re-indict Najib and Irwan.

“This case was registered in 2018, but the trial cannot continue even though the trial dates have been determined many times. “This is an excessive delay,” he ruled.

Najib sought to obtain a permanent stay in the trial of the case, The Star reported.

However, since the former prime minister’s chief lawyer did not have a formal application, this offer was rejected by the judge.