Najib - one year in prison

 

Former premier Najib Abdul Razak's Facebook page marked his one year behind bars in the Kajang prison.

The posting read: “Sudah setahun dalam penjara (it has been a year in prison).” It was accompanied by the hashtag #JusticeforNajib.

There was also a poster with the caption: “Genap Setahun Najib Terus Dizalimi (exactly one year of Najib being oppressed).”

Najib landed in prison on Aug 22 last year after a five-member Federal Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, unanimously upheld his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case.

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On July 28, 2020, two years after the fall of Umno and BN under his watch, the Kuala Lumpur High Court convicted the former premier on all seven charges, sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment and slapped him with a fine of RM210 million.

The charges were for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million of funds belonging to SRC International.

The Court of Appeal also upheld his conviction and sentence in December 2021.

Still retains considerable support

Najib, who is the son of the second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, is the first Malaysian prime minister to be imprisoned.

The former Umno president was also stripped of his Pekan MP post, which he first won at the age of 23 following his father’s death.

Former premier Najib Abdul Razak

Najib became prime minister in 2009 and served until 2018 when his government was toppled in the 14th general election.

His supporters believe the former premier, who became embroiled in the 1MDB mega financial scandal which was investigated across the globe, is a victim of political persecution, and they have been pushing for a pardon.

Following the recent state elections, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who had been critical of Najib, also mentioned that recommending a pardon for him could be one of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s options.

According to him, Najib still retains considerable support within Umno, which is struggling to remain relevant under the leadership of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib, 70, is currently on trial for 25 charges related to 1MDB. These include four for alleged abuse of power which netted him RM2.28 billion. - Mkini