KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak arrived at a Kuala Lumpur court on Tuesday (Jul 28) to hear a verdict in the first of several graft trials linked to a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
A high court judge is scheduled to open proceedings at 10am before delivering a ruling on seven charges that Najib faces over allegations he received RM42 million (US$9.9 million) from former 1MDB unit SRC International in 2014.
He has pleaded not guilty to criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power.
"This is my chance to clear my name," Najib said in a Facebook post on Monday night.
"Whatever the decision tomorrow at the high court, it does not end here," he said, adding that both sides would appeal any decision at the federal court.
READ: Verdict in first 1MDB case packs risk for Malaysian government
Some of Najib's supporters had gathered near the courthouse early on Tuesday. Roads to the court were closed off for security reasons.
If convicted, the former premier could be punished with hefty fines and jail terms of up to 15 or 20 years on each charge.
It is unclear if he will be sentenced immediately if found guilty. His lawyers have said sentencing could be delayed or suspended due to the complex nature of the case.
The implementation of the sentence can also be stayed if Najib pursues an appeal at the federal court.
READ: Malaysian court orders ex-PM Najib to pay US$400 million tax bill
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Najib faces dozens of criminal charges over allegations that US$4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB.
Prosecutors allege more than US$1 billion of the funds made its way into his personal accounts.
Najib's lawyers say he was misled by Malaysian financier Jho Low and other 1MDB officials into believing that the funds banked into his accounts were donated by the Saudi royal family, rather than misappropriated from SRC as prosecutors have alleged. Low denies wrongdoing.
Allegations of corruption over 1MDB have hung over Najib for more than five years. But the criminal charges came only after his defeat in the 2018 election when his successor Mahathir Mohamad reopened investigations.
The closely watched case is seen as a test of Malaysia's efforts to root out corruption, after Najib's party was returned to power in February as part of an alliance led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Commentary: Goldman has done it again with its 1MDB Malaysia deal
The verdict could have far reaching political implications.
A guilty verdict could boost Muhyiddin's credibility with the public, but weaken his coalition, which counts Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) as its biggest component - and potentially trigger snap polls.
An acquittal could turn public sentiment against Muhyiddin, and encourage the opposition to challenge the ruling coalition's two-seat majority in parliament.
The court's decision comes just days after Malaysia reached a US$3.9 billion deal with Goldman Sachs over its role in helping 1MDB raise money.
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2020-07-28 02:05:00Z
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