Najib Razak Cleared Of Charges Relating To Tampering With 2016 1MDB Audit Report

By Lara Kramer  •  03 Mar 2023 in Breaking News

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The charges of interfering with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) 2016 audit report were dropped against former prime minister Najib Razak, who was spotted approaching the courthouse this morning just after 9:10am.

The prosecution was found to have failed to provide evidence demonstrating that Najib directed the changes to the audit report, according to Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, who was recently appointed to the appeal court.

Arul Kanda Kandasamy, the former CEO of 1MDB who had previously been charged alongside Najib, was released from his charge.

Initially, the crime was believed to have been committed between February 22 and February 26, 2016, at the Prime Minister’s Department Complex, Federal Government Administrative Center, Putrajaya.

Both were accused of violating Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a minimum fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of gratification, whichever is greater.

Four court proceedings concerning the theft of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB continue to be pursued against Najib. The prosecution has presented 44 witnesses thus far. Additionally, he is facing other charges in two additional cases for money laundering concerning RM27 million in SRC International monies as well as unlawful trust breach involving transactions to the International Petroleum Investment Company totalling RM6.6 billion.

According to the Vibes, both cases are currently in the management stage.