In a significant turn of events, Malaysia’s High Court has granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former Prime Minister Najib Razak in a money laundering case involving RM27 million allegedly linked to the scandal-ridden SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. While this decision halts the current legal proceedings, it leaves the door open for the prosecution to revive the case in the future.
The charges, filed in February 2019, accused Najib of receiving illicit funds between 2014 and 2015. However, due to nearly six years of delays and repeated adjournments, the prosecution requested a temporary discharge. The court accepted the request, citing the inability to proceed without further evidence or clarity from the prosecution side.
Najib’s legal team welcomed the decision, noting that while it does not amount to full acquittal, it spares the former prime minister from indefinite legal limbo. His lawyer emphasized that Najib remains open to defending himself again, should the charges be reinstated.
Najib, currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted in 2020 for separate charges related to SRC International, remains at the center of Malaysia’s largest corruption scandal. His original 12-year sentence was reduced to six years following a partial royal pardon in early 2024. He is also seeking to convert his prison term into house arrest, a request based on an alleged royal decree that has sparked debate among legal experts and the public.
This isn’t the first time Najib has received a legal reprieve. In 2023, he was acquitted of audit tampering charges linked to the 1MDB fund. Last year, he was also granted a DNAA in another graft case, again due to procedural delays.
Legal experts have pointed out that the consistent delays and repeated discharges highlight systemic inefficiencies in Malaysia’s judicial and prosecutorial process. Critics argue that such outcomes risk undermining public confidence in the country’s commitment to transparency and accountability, especially in high-profile corruption cases.
For now, Najib will redirect his legal focus to the ongoing 1MDB trial involving nearly USD 700 million. Closing arguments are expected in October, and the outcome of this case could shape the former premier’s legal and political future.
Although this discharge provides temporary relief for Najib, it is far from a complete exoneration. The possibility of future prosecution remains, as does the scrutiny of Malaysia’s handling of the 1MDB scandal.