KUALA LUMPUR — How many major high profile corruption cases had outcomes this year, and what are the other important criminal cases which the courts decided on?
Here’s a quick recap:
1. Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak: DNAA in RM27m SRC case, house arrest bid, 1MDB verdict
On June 20, the High Court granted Najib a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) over his second SRC International Sdn Bhd case as proposed by his lawyer, freeing him from all three money-laundering charges related to his receipt of RM27 million in his private bank accounts.
This was because the trial had yet to start since Najib was charged in 2019 and it appeared that it would be postponed further, with the High Court saying that the prosecution could still charge him again over the same offences when it is ready to proceed with trial.
This means the only ongoing criminal case that Najib is still facing is the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
On December 22, the High Court rejected Najib's bid for house arrest, which means he will have to continue serving the rest of his six-year jail term at Kajang Prison.
Najib's six-year jail term is due to his conviction in the first SRC trial involving RM42 million, and he is due to be released in either 2028 or 2029 depending on whether he pays a RM50 million fine.
On December 26, the High Court found Najib guilty of all four power abuse charges and 21 money laundering charges over 1MDB funds worth more than RM2 billion.
In the 1MDB case, Najib will have to serve a maximum 15 years' jail as all the jail terms are to run concurrently, and was sentenced to a RM11.38 billion fine (with 10 years' jail if fine is unpaid) for the power abuse charges and to pay a penalty of RM2.081 billion (with two years and six months' jail if unpaid) over the money laundering charges.
The High Court ordered Najib to start serving his 1MDB jail term after he completes his six-year jail term in the RM42 million SRC case.
Najib will be appealing against both his failed house arrest bid and his 1MDB conviction.
