• Malaysia's High Court discharges money laundering charges against ex-PM Najib Razak.
• Najib, convicted for corruption, has been in prison since August 2022.
• Prosecution can reinstate charges in the future; Najib denies all allegations.

The High Court of Malaysia on June 20 discharged former Prime Minister Najib Razak from three money laundering charges associated with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund. This decision was granted after repeated procedural delays, with the prosecution remaining unable to indicate when they would be ready to proceed with the trial, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Najib, who has been imprisoned since August 2022 due to a prior conviction related to the misappropriation of funds from SRC International—a key subsidiary of 1MDB—was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA). His lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, noted that this ruling allows Najib to focus on his main trial regarding the grand 1MDB scandal, which has broader implications with investigations in multiple countries, according to The Jakarta Post and India Times.

Specifically, the court ruled that there was nothing to show the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial of the money laundering charges, which allege that Najib received approximately RM27 million (approximately $6.34 million) through illegal means. Notably, the High Court had previously discharged Najib and a former treasury chief from similar corruption charges, further highlighting the ongoing procedural difficulties faced by the prosecution, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Furthermore, despite the recent discharges, Najib continues to face numerous other charges tied to the broader 1MDB scandal, including claims of corruption and abuse of power. He was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was later reduced to six years. Calling for a reconsideration of his imprisonment status, Najib has sought to serve his remaining time under house arrest, a case that is ongoing, as noted by The Jakarta Post and India Times.