Musa Aman, ally of ex-Malaysian PM Najib Razak, acquitted of corruption, money laundering
- The former Sabah chief minister was facing 46 charges related to timber deals that took place between 2004 and 2008 in Hong Kong, mainland China and Singapore
- The discharge has been compared to the deal cut with Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz, who was on trial for money laundering related to the 1MDB state fund
Musa, 69, said in a media statement that the acquittal followed his application to the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier this year for the case to be withdrawn.
“I will not forget friends near and far who have helped me directly and indirectly, and the media that has given me the benefit of the doubt during the case,” he said.
Attorney General Idrus Harun in a separate statement said the unavailability of prosecution witnesses who had either died or left Malaysia as well as an affidavit in support of Musa by a former attorney general led him to decide that the prosecution of the politician was “no longer tenable”.
Idrus said the decision to drop the charges was taken in accordance with his exclusive constitutional powers to institute, conduct or discontinue proceedings.
Musa was facing 46 corruption and money laundering charges linked to timber deals that took place between 2004 and 2008 in Hong Kong, China and Singapore.
The politician is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) that has dominated the country’s politics for decades, and is the brother of the former foreign minister Anifah Aman.