Former Prime Minister Najib Razak has not ruled out seeking re-election to Parliament within the next two years, he told Reuters in an interview, undeterred by a corruption conviction that would block him from running.

Najib’s graft-tainted party, Umno, clinched the premiership last month after it was ousted from power three years ago over a multi-billion-dollar scandal. Opponents had expressed fears that party leaders facing charges could secure leniency once back in control.

Najib, who served as premier for nine years until 2018, was found guilty of corruption last year and sentenced to 12 years in jail over one of many cases over the misappropriation of funds from now-defunct state fund 1MDB. He has denied wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict.

(Reuters)