"Not the end of the world," says Najib without a 'sorry'!
It is not the end of the world, says Najib Razak, the ex-PM of Malaysia convicted of stealing money from the coffers of the state.
After appearing in court, Mr. Najib told supporters gathered outside that he is optimistic he will prevail on appeal.
“This is definitely not the end of the world, because there’s a process of appeal, and we hope that we would be successful there,” he said.
NOT A SINGLE APOLOGY
Najib had no remorse and did not say a single word of apology to either the public or the court.
Instead he went on a rant in his final words before the judge delivers his sentences.
He presented himself as a victim of ignorance again, adding that he did a log for the country.
In response to his comments, some netizens says Najib got plenty of money in his personal accounts during his rule as PM while their accounts are ’empty’.
NEW YORK TIMES
The New York Times says Najib Razak was a master of Malaysia’s cutthroat politics but on Tuesday, he was finally held to account.
The sweeping verdict was a stunning setback for Mr. Najib.
But the severity of the sentence came as a surprise to some after the government recently cut a deal with Mr Najib’s stepson.
The deal allowed Riza Aziz to keep millions of dollars that were believed to have been stolen from the same Malaysia Development Berhad fund.
Sputnik says the 1MDB embezzlement scandal was one of the main reasons for the failure of the former prime minister’s party, the United Malays National Organisation, in the 2018 general elections.
The Independent in the U.K. got one fact wrong. It says ex-PM Mahathir Mohamad was ousted in a snap election in February this year.
The paper wrongly says the non-existent snap poll, “returned BN to power.”
Najib’s trial has been seen as a test of the country’s commitment to rooting out corruption.
The Wall Street Journal says the billions are still missing.
The Financial Times notes that the judge granted a suspension of the prison sentence and fine until Mr Najib’s appeal is heard.
In the meantime, Najib must pay an additional bail of RM1m by Wednesday and present himself to the nearest police station on the first and 15th day of every month.
it says the verdict marks a pivotal moment for Malaysia’s probe into 1MDB.
Saying the verdict sets a precedent in Malaysia’s legal history, the paper adds it could offer a chance for Malaysia’s government to finally start putting the 1MDB scandal behind it.
Najib has three more trials linked to 1MDB but the appeal process could drag the case on for up to another two years.
Najib walks free for now, awaiting appeal.