1MDB

After decades of subordination to politicians, the conviction of Najib Razak on corruption charges was a powerful assertion of independence by the country's judiciary.

Najib Razak's best hope of an early release is to mobilize his base and generate public pressure for the king to intervene.

The jailing of Najib Razak is a major step toward accountability for the massive financial scandal, but many of its architects and enablers remain at large.

The former leader was found guilty in 2020 on three charges related to the pilfering of the 1MDB state development fund.

Lawyers for the former leader are seeking to have the case thrown out on the grounds that a trial judge had a conflict of interest.

In handing down the decision, an appeal judge described Najib Razak’s actions as a “national embarrassment.”

The announcement came days after the Malaysian government filed 22 lawsuits seeking to recover more than $23 billion in 1MDB-linked assets.

The trial has shed additional light on the important role that the Malaysian First Lady played during her husband's time in office.

Prosecutors alleged that bond sales organized by Goldman Sachs helped enable the pilfering of the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.

Federal prosecutors say Nickie Lum Davis failed to disclose to the federal government that his lobbying efforts were on behalf of a fugitive Malaysian financier.

The Najib ruling is “a step in the right direction on the path to constitutional redemption,” Tew says.