A British investigative journalist has been sentenced to two years behind bars after she was declared guilty of defaming Malaysia’s royal family.
Clare Rewcastle-Brown, the sister-in-law of former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has been responsible for exposing a web of financial corruption among the country’s elite.
Her investigation into tycoon Jho Low led to him going on the run accused of plundering USD 4.5 billion from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, collapsing the government.
Now Malaysia’s Kuala Terengganu Magistrates’ Court has declared Rewcastle-Brown guilty of defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah.
Rewcastle-Brown, 65, did not attend the hearing on 7th February.
Senior judge Magistrate Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri sentenced her to two years in jail in absentia.
Rewcastle-Brown, a former BBC World Service journalist based in London, is reportedly appealing the verdict.
The Sultanah had claimed that her book, ‘The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose’, had falsely claimed that she was involved in secret corruption.
She said Rewcastle-Brown had also falsely claimed she had used her royal influence to help put Low alongside the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund he is accused of plundering.
Rewcastle-Brown had been charged with criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Malaysian Penal Code.
Her Malaysian lawyer Guok Ngek Seong, told local media he had received instructions to file an appeal with a higher court on 8th February.
Guok reportedly said his client had urged the judge to revise their decision, describing it as illegal and irregular.
The lavish lifestyle of Old Harrovian playboy Low raised eyebrows before Rewcastle-Brown helped break what has been dubbed the world’s most notorious financial scandal.
Fugitive Low showered stars like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton with gifts and once gave Leonardo DiCaprio a GBP 2.5 million Picasso painting.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
