Najib to appeal 1MDB conviction as defence calls sentence unreasonable
PUTRAJAYA: Defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Datuk Seri Najib Razak will file an appeal on Monday against the High Court’s ruling in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
Speaking to reporters after proceedings at the Palace of Justice today, Muhammad Shafee said it was the first time in his long legal career that the defence had failed on every argument presented in court.
He said the defence had anticipated the outcome, which saw Najib convicted on all the charges brought against him.
“Although we are deeply disappointed with the decision, it did not come as a surprise and was expected,” he said.
However, Muhammad Shafee described the sentence imposed as unreasonable, particularly the amount of the fine ordered against Najib.
Earlier, Najib was sentenced to a total of 165 years in prison and fined RM13.4 billion after he was found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.
Najib was earlier today found guilty on four charges of abusing his power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds.
The jail terms for all counts are to run concurrently, which means his imprisonment period will be for 15 years.
He was also fined a total of RM11.4 billion by Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.