In a decision shrouded in controversy, Malaysia’s pardons board halved the jail term of former Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday, February 2nd.
Razak, who was sentenced to 12 years in 2022 for his role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB financial scandal, will now serve only six years in prison.
The board, chaired by Malaysia’s former king Sultan Abdullah and including the attorney general, announced their decision after meeting on Monday, just two days before the king’s abdication.
Their statement offered no specific reasons for the 50% sentence reduction, sparking mixed reactions amongst the public.
While Najib will be released in 2028, he still faces a hefty fine of 50 million ringgit ($10.6 million).
Failure to pay will result in an additional year added to his sentence. Neither Najib’s lawyers nor government officials responded to requests for comment.
The decision comes after a lengthy legal battle. In 2020, Najib was found guilty of abuse of power, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust related to the transfer of funds from 1MDB to his personal accounts.
He appealed the verdict, claiming an unfair trial due to alleged judicial bias and insufficient time for his new legal team to prepare. However, his appeal was rejected by the country’s top court.
Najib, who served as Prime Minister from 2009 to 2018, was ousted from power following public outrage over the 1MDB scandal.
The opposition, led by Malaysia’s veteran politician Mahathir Mohamad, capitalized on the public’s anger to secure a historic election victory in 2018.
The pardons board’s decision to halve Najib’s sentence is sure to ignite further debate, raising questions about accountability, political influence, and the rule of law in Malaysia.
While the decision’s rationale remains unclear, it undoubtedly adds another chapter to the saga surrounding the 1MDB scandal and its ongoing repercussions.
