Malaysian Court Drops Najib Razak's Corruption Charges

A Malaysian court has dropped corruption charges against former Prime Minister Najib Razak and ex-treasury chief Irwan Serigar Abdullah linked to the 1MDB scandal. The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that procedural delays and the prosecution's failure to provide key documents were unfair to the defense, resulting in a discharge that does not equate to acquittal, allowing prosecutors to potentially revive the charges. Najib, already serving a six-year sentence for a separate conviction related to 1MDB, faces ongoing legal battles, including a key case where he must enter a defense. The dismissed charges involved six counts of criminal breach of trust concerning 6.6 billion ringgit ($1.5 billion) intended for a settlement with Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company. This development occurs amid Najib's controversial request to serve the remainder of his sentence at home. The 1MDB scandal has had a profound impact on Malaysia, resulting in the loss of billions in taxpayer funds and significant political upheaval.