File of former Malaysian PM Najib, before lawyers submit closing arguments in his criminal case

Record ID: 1437318

  • Title: File of former Malaysian PM Najib, before lawyers submit closing arguments in his criminal case
  • Date: 17th October 2019
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER, NAJIB RAZAK, SAYING: "I want to ask you all, are we strong enough? Are we ready? Can we dissolve parliament tomorrow? PARTY SUPPORTERS HOLDING BANNER AND CHEERING NAJIB AND HIS WIFE ROSMAH MANSOR LEAVING Najib dissolved parliament, paving way for an election in May 2018. He faced his biggest test yet as he attempted to be re-elected as prime minister for a third term. KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (FILE - APRIL 7, 2018) (REUTERS) NATIONAL FRONT SUPPORTERS WAVING PARTY FLAGS NAJIB STANDING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER, NAJIB RAZAK, SAYING: "The 14th general election is at a crossroad. This is an election that will decide the survival of Malaysia." On May 9, 2018, Najib cast his vote in the hotly-contested election. Polling firms said that while Najib's ruling coalition had lost ground in the lead-up to the general election, it could still win enough parliamentary seats to cling on to power. PEKAN, PAHANG, MALAYSIA (FILE - MAY 9, 2018) (REUTERS) NAJIB AT POLLING STATION, WALKING TO COVERED COUNTER TO WRITE HIS BALLOT PAPERS NAJIB WALKING FROM COUNTER TOWARDS BALLOT BOX NAJIB SHOWING BALLOT PAPER AND HIS INKED FINGER
  • Embargoed: 31st October 2019 03:26
  • 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: LVA00EB1NEG5J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Prosecutors and defence lawyers of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak are scheduled to present their closing arguments on Tuesday (October 22), ahead of a November ruling on whether a case has been established against the ex-premier.
    Najib faces seven charges over allegations that he received about $10 million in illegal funds from SRC International, a former unit of scandal-linked state fund 1MDB.
    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: Angie Teo, 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
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