Malaysia jails opposition MP for leaking audit details at scandal-hit 1MDB

Reuters: A Malaysian court on Monday sentenced an opposition lawmaker to 18 months in prison for releasing confidential information related to scandal-hit state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), keeping up a crackdown on critics of the Government.

The verdict comes just days ahead of a massive rally planned on Saturday by pro-democracy group Bersih, calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down over his alleged involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

Rafizi Ramli, a member of the People’s Justice Party (PKR), was found guilty of violating the Official Secrets Act (OSA), by possessing and disclosing a page from the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB without permission earlier this year. The audit was carried out last year following allegations of mismanagement and graft at 1MDB and has yet to be declassified.

The court allowed a stay on the execution pending an appeal of the verdict. Rafizi said on his Twitter account that he would appeal the verdict.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak (L) shakes hands with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during a welcoming ceremony at the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya last week - AFP 

“This is a sad day for Malaysian democracy, when a democrat has been brought to court for daring to speak up to protect the rights and interest of the people,” PKR chief Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in a statement.

Wan Azizah’s husband, charismatic opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, is serving a five-year prison sentence after being found guilty in a case that supporters and many independent observers regarded as politically motivated.