No error in sentencing principles of Najib, say Court of Appeal

KUALA LUMPUR: The trial judge who convicted Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case did not err in his sentencing principles when he ordered the former premier to serve a total of 12 years in jail and pay a RM210mil fine, says the Court of Appeal.

A three-man panel chaired by Justice Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil said the trial judge at the High Court, Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, had balanced the interests of the appellant (Najib) with that of the pain and suffering that he had inflicted upon the nation.

“He (Najib) has not merely breached the trust reposted on him but has betrayed it,” the panel said in a 316-page full judgment on the case.

The other judges on the panel were Justices Has Zanah Mehat and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.

On Wednesday, the panel dismissed Najib’s appeal and upheld his conviction and sentence in the misappropriation of RM42mil from SRC, a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The panel found that Justice Mohd Nazlan had properly considered all factors that were relevant for consideration in sentencing.

“In the circumstances of the facts of the case, we do not find the sentences to be grossly excessive.

“The terms of imprisonment and fine imposed are wholly adequate and commensurate with the nature of the offences,” it said.

On July 28, 2020, the High Court sentenced Najib to a total of 12 years in jail and a total fine of RM210mil after he was found guilty of seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position in the RM42mil from SRC.

Najib lost his appeal at the appellate court and has filed an appeal to the Federal Court.