Court acquits Najib, Arul Kanda of tampering with 1MDB audit

Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Updated 1 year ago · Published on 3 Mar 2023 10:55AM · 0 Comments

THE High Court in Kuala Lumpur has acquitted jailed former prime minister Najib Razak and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda of tampering with the 1MDB audit report.

Justice Zani Mazlan ruled favour of the defendants, saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case under section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

Najib, 70, currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd funds, was charged with abusing his power to obtain immunity from legal action and making amendments to the finalised 1MDB audit report prior to its tabling before the Public Accounts Committee.

1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda has been acquitted of abetting former prime minister Najib Razak to tamper with the sovereign wealth fund's audit report. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, March 3, 2023.

Arul, 46, was charged as former chief executive officer with abetting Najib with the aim of shielding him from further action.

The prosecution closed its case on September 7 after calling 16 witnesses, including the late former chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, former auditors-general Ambrin Buang and Madinah Mohamad, former 1MDB chairman Mohd Bakke Salleh and former National Audit Department audit director Saadatul Nafisah Bashir Ahmad. – March 3, 2023.