Jailed Malaysian leader Najib Razak apologises for 1MDB embezzlement scandal
The 1MDB major corruption scandal upended Najib Razak's government.
In short:
A Malaysian sovereign wealth fund co-founded in 2009 by then-leader Najib Razak has faced corruption probes in at least six countries.
Najib said in a letter that he "apologised unreservedly" to the Malaysian people while reiterating his claims of innocence.
What's next?
A court is set to determine on October 30 whether to acquit Najib or ask him to enter his defence on money laundering and corruption charges in a 1MDB-related case.
Imprisoned former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has issued a rare apology over the looting of a state investment fund worth billions of dollars "under my watch", while reiterating his innocence.
Najib set up the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund, or 1MBD, shortly after taking power in 2009.
Investigators allege more than $US4.5 billion ($6.8 billion) was stolen from the fund and laundered by his associates to finance Hollywood films and extravagant purchases.
1MDB has faced corruption probes in at least six countries over the alleged misappropriation of these funds.
Malaysian anti-corruption investigators have said their probes into 1MDB during Najib's tenure were blocked.
The scandal upended Najib's government and he was defeated in the 2018 election.
Najib, 71, has consistently denied wrongdoing and this week expressed remorse about the 1MDB scandal in a letter read at a press conference by his son, Mohamad Nizar Mohd Najib.
"It pains me every day to know that the 1MDB debacle happened under my watch as minister of finance and prime minister," the former premier said, according to the letter.
"For that, I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Malaysian people."
The apology comes ahead of Wednesday's court decision that will either acquit or order him to enter his defence in a second main graft trial, in which he faces four charges of abusing his power to obtain more than $US700 million ($1 billion) from 1MDB and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
It also came just days after Malaysia, in its budget plans for 2025, said it would propose a new law that would allow house arrest as an alternative punishment for certain offences.
Najib said while he initiated investigations into 1MDB, he should have acted differently when questions about its dealings first arose, adding his concerns at the time were its finances and the diplomatic risks the scandal posed.
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor is also facing corruption charges.
Malaysian anti-graft investigators have previously said their probes into 1MDB during Najib's tenure had been blocked, with witnesses disappearing and death threats made against them.
Najib said he was "still in deep shock knowing now the extent of the wretched and unconscionable shenanigans, and illegal things that happened in 1MDB".
Malaysia's top court in 2022 upheld a guilty verdict against Najib for corruption and money laundering for illegally receiving about $US10 million from former 1MDB unit SRC International, sentencing him to 12 years in prison.
The sentence was later halved by a pardons board chaired by Malaysia's former king.
Najib pleads not to be 'legally victimised'
In his letter, Najib reiterated he didn't collaborate with Malaysian fugitive financier Low Taek Jho — identified by investigators as the mastermind behind the pilfering of the fund.
Najib added he had been punished politically and should not also be "legally victimised".
"Being held legally responsible for things that I did not initiate or knowingly enable is unfair to me, and I hope and pray that the judicial process will, in the end, prove my innocence," he said.
Najib's current trial began in August 2019.
It is the most significant as it ties him directly to the 1MDB scandal that has prompted investigations in the US and several other countries.
Prosecutors allege Najib embezzled billions of dollars from 1MDB through an "elaborate charade" and then sought to cover his tracks.
Najib says he was fooled into believing it was a donation from the Saudi Arabia royal family.
He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of abuse of power and up to five years for each of the money laundering charges.
In addition, Najib still has a pending case involving a criminal breach of trust and another money laundering trial.
His wife Rosmah Mansor and other senior government officials are also facing corruption charges.
AP/Reuters
By：https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-25/jailed-malaysian-leader-najib-razak-sorry-1mdb-corruption/104516136(责任编辑：admin)
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