Malaysian ex-PM Najib given 12 years in jail in 1MDB scandal

23 Sept 06:51 Key points summarised by AI

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty in the first of several corruption trials linked to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB state investment fund scandal.
Najib was convicted on seven charges, including abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
The judge granted a stay of the jail sentence and fine pending Najib's planned appeal, but the ruling is seen as a significant victory against corruption and a bolster for future 1MDB-related prosecutions.
The 1MDB fund, established by Najib, was at the center of a scandal where billions were allegedly stolen, with over $700 million reportedly channeled into his personal bank accounts.

Detained Suu Kyi receives UK royal package: Myanmar govt

Today 03:08 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's detained Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, received a package from Britain's King Charles III, which included two gardening books, a sealed envelope, and diplomatic communication.
The event marked the first release of images of Suu Kyi in two months and saw Myanmar authorities describe her as a "special female prisoner" for the first time.
Suu Kyi, who was deposed in a 2021 military coup that triggered an ongoing civil war, remains under house arrest on charges that rights groups contend are politically motivated.