Former prime minister of Malaysia is sentenced to 12 years in prison

Najib vowed to appeal the verdict. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, but the judge said Tuesday that the prosecution had proven its accusations beyond doubt and that Najib, 67, committed the crimes in a “position of trust.” He was granted a stay on his sentence, pending appeal.

The party Najib used to lead rejoined the government in March. Some analysts say his political allies could seek to topple the legal proceedings.

Tuesday’s conviction focused to the illegal transfer of around $10 million from SRC International — a unit under 1MDB. Future trials will center on larger sums.

The guilty verdict marks a deep fall for Najib, who became prime minister in 2009. He was initially seen as a reformist but soon returned to less inclusive policies, focusing on pleasing his party’s traditional party base and consolidating his power in the following years.

But in May 2018, his ruling National Front coalition was ousted after decades in power. Najib’s challenger, Mahathir Mohamad, became prime minister. Throughout his campaign, Mahathir had vowed to confront corruption in Malaysia’s state institutions.

Najib was charged in July 2018. Prosecutors in the United States and at least five other countries were investigating his role in the scandal.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, high-level officials misappropriated at least $4.5 billion of Malaysia’s state investment fund.

Investigators found luxury goods and cash during raids on properties linked to Najib and his relatives, worth around $275 million.

At the time, Najib said he believed that funds transferred to his account were a donation by the Saudi royal family.