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

Record ID: 1437321

  • Title: File of former Malaysian PM Najib, before lawyers submit closing arguments in his criminal case
  • Date: 17th October 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: 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: LVA00AB1NEG5J
  • 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
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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