- Title: File of former Malaysian PM Najib, ahead of his second trial
- Date: 14th August 2019
- Summary: In 2015, Najib was buffeted by allegations of graft and mismanagement at the debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and by a revelation that about $681 million was deposited into his personal bank account. The United States Department of Justice, in dozens of civil forfeiture suits, alleged that more than $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, and that about $1 billion made its way into the bank account of "Malaysian Official No 1", who U.S. and Malaysian sources confirmed referred to Najib. Najib said in an interview on December 7, 2015, that his conscience was "absolutely clear". JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA (FILE - JULY 3, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NAJIB GREETING PEOPLE VARIOUS OF NAJIB WALKING VARIOUS OF NAJIB PRAYING NAJIB WALKING PAST
- Embargoed: 28th August 2019 12:37
- Keywords: graft Barisan Nasional Najib Razak profile Mahathir former prime minister National Front UMNO Najib profile Najib file corruption Najib 1MDB Malaysia
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR / PORT KLANG AND GOMBAK, SELANGOR / PEKAN, PAHANG / PUTRAJAYA / JOHOR BAHRU / LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR / PORT KLANG AND GOMBAK, SELANGOR / PEKAN, PAHANG / PUTRAJAYA / JOHOR BAHRU / LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA00AASHRUIT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak is due on Monday (August 19) to attend the second of his five trials on charges linked to a multi-billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
But there is a possibility that the trial will be postponed, as prosecutors have yet to complete questioning witnesses in Najib's first trial over offences linked to 1MDB's former subsidiary SRC International.
The SRC trial was abruptly adjourned on Wednesday due to Najib contracting an eye infection, his lawyer said.
Najib, charged with 25 counts of graft and money laundering, is accused of illegally receiving about 2.3 billion ringgit ($556 million) from 1MDB.
On April 3, 10 years to the day after he was sworn in as prime minister, Najib attended his first trial - one of many he faces over graft accusations. It was a stunning fall from grace for a leader who just a year ago was Malaysia's most powerful person.
Malaysians voted Najib out of power in May 2018, as disgust grew over corruption and rising living costs, and the investigations of 1Malaysia Development Berhad are seen as a test of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's promises to root out corruption.
1MDB, founded by Najib in 2009, is the subject of corruption and money laundering investigations in at least six countries. The U.S. Department of Justice has said about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from the fund.
Najib was barred from leaving Malaysia and arrested within two months after the election. He faces a total of 42 criminal charges, most linked to 1MDB and other state entities.
He has consistently denied wrongdoing and says the charges against him are politically motivated.
The luxurious lifestyle of Najib and his family also came to light with the discovery of nearly $300 million worth of goods and cash at properties linked to him.
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, known for her designer handbags and jewellery, has also been charged with corruption. She has pleaded not guilty.
(Production: Ebrahim Harris, Yiming Woo, Phyllis Xu, Natasha Howitt) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
