Najib Gets Discharge in 1MDB Case, Not Fully Acquitted

Malaysia’s High Court has discharged but not acquitted former Prime Minister Najib Razak from money laundering charges linked to the 1MDB scandal, his lawyer confirmed on Friday.

Najib, who has been in prison since August 2022, was facing three money laundering charges involving 27 million ringgit ($6.4 million) allegedly misappropriated from SRC International, a former unit of the scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

His lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) was granted due to repeated delays in the case since 2019. The court said prosecutors could refile the charges later.

“So he isn’t left waiting… no longer has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head,” Shafee told reporters.

This is the second time 1MDB-linked charges against Najib have been dropped due to delays. In 2023, Najib was also acquitted of separate charges related to tampering with a government audit on 1MDB.

Najib is still awaiting a verdict in his main 1MDB trial, with final arguments expected in October. He has denied all charges against him.

The former prime minister is also seeking to serve the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest, claiming a royal order allows it. He is currently trying to force the government to confirm the existence of that order.