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| Malaysia: Former Prime Minister Najib Razak faces 12 years in prison after appeal rejected |
It is only an hour's journey from the former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's residence, a palatial mansion in a posh area of the capital, to the prison where he will now serve his sentence, but for luxury, he There is a difference between earth and sky in both places.
It should be noted that former Prime Minister Najib Razak was recently ordered by the country's top court to be sent to jail to serve a 12-year sentence after his appeal was dismissed.
Najib Razak, 69, was convicted in July 2020 of embezzling government funds. However, Najib Razak appealed against the decision and was released on bail.
In a recent judgment, the court also rejected his request for some delay in his sentence. Najib Razak denies the allegations leveled against him.
In 2020, a court acquitted him of seven charges, which revolved around the embezzlement of nearly US$94 million that was transferred to his account.
The court sentenced him to 12 years in prison and fined about 47 million US dollars.
His defense team had argued that Najib Razak believed that the money in his account was a donation from a Saudi royal family and not embezzled from government funds.
His defense also said he was misled by economic advisers, particularly fugitive Zhu Lao, who is facing charges in the US and Malaysia, and who denies the charges against him.
On Tuesday, Najib Razak's lawyers requested that the chief justice be removed from the panel of judges hearing the case, which is seen as a delaying tactic.
He had claimed that the Chief Justice's husband had put up a post on Facebook against Najib Razak in 2018, so she herself could be a party.
However, the Chief Justice rejected this request. He said that this post was made before the registration of the case against Najib Razak.
In the final judgment of the court, the Chief Justice said that the five-judge panel was of the unanimous opinion that Najib Razak's appeal had no solid basis and that he was correctly sentenced.
He said that the defense failed to raise any serious question mark on the case.
It should be noted that Najib Razak's wife is also facing money laundering and tax cases. She denies the allegations.
Najib Razak's wife is also facing a corruption case related to a solar hybrid project and the High Court is going to decide her case on September 1.
A big leader going to jail is a strange thing
This is a huge moment. In a region where power is not held accountable, it is unusual for a senior leader like Najib Razak to go to jail.
Indonesian President Suharto never went to jail when he was forced to resign after protests in 1998.
Malaysia has broken this tradition. Najib now has few legal recourses. They can request a revision but that too has little hope.
Nevertheless, it would be premature to say that Najib's time is up. He is still popular among some sections of Malaysian society and is influential in the UNMO party.
It is being said that the party could win the election after which they could press for a royal pardon.
It should be noted that after 61 years, the UNMO party was defeated in 2018 due to the financial scandal related to Najib Razak.
Accustomed to wealth and luxury, Najib Razak may now have to face a tough prison life for some time.
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