FORMER prime minister Najib Razak was today sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million after being found guilty of abusing his power in receiving RM42 million in funds from SRC International in 2014 and 2015.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali delivered the sentence after three hours of mitigation. The judge also stayed the execution of the jail sentence and fine, pending an appeal by the defence at the Court of Appeal.

The judge has also set an additional RM1 million bail in two sureties to be paid by tomorrow. He also ordered Najib to report to the nearest police station on the 1st and 15th of every month.

The former finance minister was convicted earlier today of all seven charges – three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power.

Najib, who turned 67 last Thursday, was also sentenced to 10 years’ jail each for three CBT and three money-laundering charges. No fines were imposed for those offences.

Nazlan ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

The judge said he had taken into consideration all mitigating factors, including public interests and the interest of the accused.

The sentencing caps a 10-hour hearing beginning this morning, which saw arguments for mitigation after Nazlan delivered his judgement, which took nearly two hours to read out.

Before sentencing was carried out, Nazlan granted Najib permission to stand and address the court from the dock.

The former prime minister spoke of the “robust” economic growth Malaysia experienced during his tenure.

He said that under his leadership, Petronas, Khazanah, Amanah Saham Bumiputera and Lembaga Tabung Haji accrued dividends. 

And he “ensured a fairer and gentler society” besides being responsible for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act, which was something he “was not given much credit for”.

Najib then swore a Muslim oath (sumpah laknat) that he had no knowledge of the RM42 million from SRC International that went into his accounts.

“So Yang Ariff, I would like to say in a nutshell that second, as a Muslim, I did not demand the RM42 million, nor was the RM42 million offered to me and there was no evidence to say so. I would like to say I do not have knowledge of the RM42 million. Wallahu, Wabillahi, Watallahi.”

After today’s hearing was adjourned, Najib later told the press that he will be appealing today’s conviction. – July 28, 2020.