1MDB Judge: Najib Is Not ‘Orang Kampung’ Who Would Be Clueless About Misappropriated Funds

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Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah said former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not a "orang kampung" (villager) who would be clueless about the misappropriation of 1MDB funds

In delivering the verdict today, 26 December, in the high-profile 1MDB case involving RM2.3 billion deposited into Najib's bank account, the judge rejected Najib's claims that he was unaware of the misappropriation, reported Malaysiakini.

Sequerah said he is not a poorly educated person from a rural area, saying he possessed superior intelligence, came from an impeccable family and political pedigree, and had extensive experience in both regional and national administration.

Sequerah said Najib had never lodged any reports with law enforcement authorities over the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds, including claims that his signature had been forged on certain documents, reported Malay Mail.

"Such an omission can only reasonably be constructed as an act of condonation on the part of the accused who at the material time wielded considerable powers as both finance minister, chairman of the board of advisors, and prime minister.

"The accused is no orang kampung (country bumpkin) but possessed of not only an impeccable family and a political pedigree, but of superior intelligence, given his academic background and his previous experience in politics and in the administration, not only regionally but also on a national level.

"Any attempt to paint the accused as an ignoramus or as hopelessly unaware of the misdeeds going around him must therefore fail miserably," said the judge.

Sequerah added that Najib took various measures, some of them drastic at times, to safeguard and consolidate his interests in the former sovereign wealth fund

These actions included the disbandment of a special task force established to investigate 1MDB and the deposits into Najib's personal accounts in July 2015, as well as the removal of key figures involved in the probes.

Among those removed were former attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

Sequerah also said Najib had sought to persuade then Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz to issue a statement declaring that there was "no wrongdoing" in relation to the funds deposited into his accounts.

Najib, 72, was charged in 2018 with four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering.

The High Court is set to deliver its verdict today, bringing to a close more than seven years of legal proceedings in the high-profile corruption case.