Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak been sent to jail

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after the court rejected his appeal.

The 69-year-old former PM was charged with a corruption scandal involving state-owned wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He was convicted in July 2020 but had been out on bail during the appeal.

In 2020, a court found him guilty on seven counts – centred on a total of 42m ringgit ($9.4m; £8m) which was transferred from SRC International – a former unit of 1MDB – into his private accounts.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and a fine of 210m ringgit ($46.8m; £39.7m).

Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, faces separate money-laundering and tax evasion charges related to a solar hybrid project – to which she has pleaded not guilty. The High Court is scheduled to deliver her verdict on 1 September.