Malaysia’s jailed former prime minister Najib Razak was found guilty on the first count of abuse of power in the final criminal case linked to the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, following a seven-year trial.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah is still reading the remaining verdicts.
Prosecutors say that Najib abused his position to siphon 2.3 billion ringgit (US$568 million) from the scandal-hit state fund.
In total, the 72-year-old faces four charges of abusing his position to obtain the monies in gratification linked to 1MDB funds, along with 21 additional counts of money laundering.
The decision is being delivered at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.
The former leader could face maximum jail terms of between 15 and 20 years on each charge, as well as a fine of up to five times the value of the alleged misappropriations.
