PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Malaysia's top court on Tuesday upheld former prime minister Najib Razak's graft conviction and 12-year jail sentence linked to the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund. His loss in his final appeal means he will have to begin serving his sentence immediately, becoming the first ex-premier to be jailed.

The five-member Federal Court panel said it unanimously found that the high court judge was right in his judgment and that Najib's appeal was 'devoid of any merits.' The tribunal affirmed Najib's conviction and sentence.