COMMENT | Najib, here’s the definition of ‘stealing’

COMMENT | The “I am not a thief” mantra has been used by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak since 2015 when news broke that funds amounting to RM2.6 billion had been transferred from 1MDB to his own bank account.

He said it again after being charged in September 2018 on 25 counts of money laundering and abuse of power involving the transaction of funds allegedly linked to the sovereign wealth fund.

It has to be admitted that Najib has been consistent – he repeats the same mantra at every opportunity. Most recently, at the 48th anniversary of the Barisan Nasional (BN) on Wednesday, he was quoted as saying that he was not accused of stealing in his corruption trials but of laundering funds which “he did not personally enjoy.”

Last year, Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million after he was found guilty of all seven charges related to the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International funds.

For the three criminal breach of trust offences, Najib was ordered to serve 10 years for each count. He was also ordered to serve 10 years jail for each of the three counts of money laundering under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Since his appeal to the Federal Court is pending and there are two other ongoing trials, I would refrain from making any comments lest I am cited for contempt and sub judice.

This commentary is aimed at enlightening our readers on the various issues related to embezzlement of money as some may have been confused by the latest turn of events and utterances. As such, this glossary...