Najib Razak Must Defend Against 1MDB Charges

A Malaysian court has ruled that jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak must defend himself against multiple charges related to the 1MDB scandal, including four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering, totaling allegations of misappropriating approximately 2.3 billion ringgit ($526 million). Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah found the prosecution's evidence compelling, allowing the case against Najib to proceed to trial, which is set to begin on December 2. Najib, who has pleaded not guilty, faces potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison for abuse of power and fines for money laundering. This ruling follows his previous 12-year sentence for corruption in a separate 1MDB case, which was reduced by a pardons board. Despite his claims of ignorance regarding the alleged illegal transfers, Najib's political downfall and ongoing legal challenges highlight the extensive investigations into the scandal that is believed to involve at least $4.5 billion. The court's decision has been met with support from various sectors, indicating a significant step in the legal proceedings surrounding the case.