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Former Malaysian prime minister, now incarcerated felon, Najib Razak had his bid to review his conviction and sentence rejected by the Malaysian Federal Court on Mar. 31.

13-1

Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang prison for misappropriating RM42 million (S$12.6 million) from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Bernama reported that Najib was seeking to review his conviction and sentence, but was rejected by four members of the five judge panel.

According to Bloomberg, Judge Vernon Ong read out the majority decision, saying that Najib had received a fair trial and that he had been "the author of his own misfortune".

The sole dissenting voice was Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, who noted that Najib had no representation during his final appeal, and thus faced "injustice".

Najib own lawyers had attempted to discharge themselves just before the appeal in August 2022.

Malaysian social media users met the news with bemusement, noting that the ratio of judges who had found Najib guilty vs innocent was 13-1, with one joking that Najib "remains eligible for the Kajan Prison Champions League".

TERKINI — Aggregate 13-1. Najib Razak kekal layak berada di dalam Kejohanan Liga Juara-Juara Penjara Kajang.

Walaun walauntit dah boleh delete lah draft semalam "Kerajaan Madani bebaskan perasuah". Kau tunggu jek turn Abah kau @MuhyiddinYassin ke dalam. pic.twitter.com/EmQ3NRX30k

— Dato' Seri Arwah Jemin (@ArwahJemin) March 31, 2023

Najib was greeted by about a hundred supporters when he arrived. The New Straits Times reports that they had gathered several hours prior to Najib's arrival.

Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, and his children were also present at the courthouse.

Rosmah Mansor has arrived at the Federal Court.

The Court will decide on her husband Najib Razak's second bid against his conviction, 12 years' jail sentence and fine in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case. https://t.co/vfLecwD8rU pic.twitter.com/iH4GykJY5E

— BFM News (@NewsBFM) March 31, 2023

Rosmah has herself been found guilty of corruption, and is out on bail while she appeals the conviction.

Pardon?

Najib was found guilty in July 2020 of criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and sentenced to 12 years in jail and a RM210 million (S$63.2 million) fine, as reported by the Malay Mail.

If he is unable to pay his fine, he will have to serve an additional five years.

In Aug 2022, Najib was finally sent to jail after his final appeal was rejected.

Najib remains on trail for several other criminal charges linked to the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, although he was acquitted of an abuse of power charge on Mar. 3, 2023.

Earlier this month, former head of Goldman Sachs Malaysia Rodger Ng was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a trial in the United States, with prosecutors saying he played a key role in looting billions of dollars from 1MDB, as reported by the BBC.

With this latest rejection Najib will now have to serve out his full jail sentence, unless he is given a royal pardon.

There has been no indication thus far of whether this will happen, but he requested a pardon in September 2022, soon after he was imprisoned.

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Top image via NurPhoto/Getty Images