AGC fails to file appeal petition, court keeps Najib's acquittal over 1MDB audit tampering

A failure by the prosecution to file a petition to follow up on its appeal against the acquittal of former leader Najib Razak and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy over the 1MDB audit report tampering case has led to the Court of Appeal striking out the appeal.

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) had earlier filed an appeal against the duo's acquittal in March but failed to follow up with a petition within the 10-day period.

The decision was welcomed by Najib lawyers, who said it proved their client's as well as Arul's innocence, adding that the charges should not have been brought up in the first place.

"We extend our gratitude to everyone who strived for the truth and the upholding of justice. We ardently hope that this definitive outcome allows both Najib and Arul Kanda to proceed with their lives, liberated from these baseless allegations," said Muhammad Farhan Shafee from the law firm Shafee & Co. 

Najib was charged with Arul under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act with abusing power by instructing for the alteration of the government's audit report on 1MDB in February 2016.