Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s jail term halved to 6 years in royal pardon

14 Sept 02:12 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysia's pardons board halved former Prime Minister Najib Razak's 12-year jail term for the 1MDB scandal to six years, scheduling his release for August 2028.
His substantial fine was also reduced from RM210 million (S$60 million) to RM50 million (S$14.2 million), with an additional year of jail if unpaid.
The royal pardons board, chaired by Malaysia's king, did not provide a public reason for the significant reduction in sentence.
Najib, who consistently denies wrongdoing in the multi-billion dollar graft and money laundering case, remains on trial for other 1MDB-related charges.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.