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KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged with six counts of $ 1.5 trillion on Thursday, adding to the 32 charges he already faces for money laundering and graft.
Malaysia's Prime Prime Minister Najib Razak leaves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 4, 2018. REUTERS / Lai Seng Sin
His former treasury chief, Irwan Serigar Abdullah, was also charged with criminal breach of trust, becoming the highest-ranking civil servant to be served since Najib was unexpectedly ousted in a general election in May.
The two pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Each charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years, a financial penalty and a whipping award, but both of them would be exempt from whipping as they are over the age of 50.
"Nothing in the charges that I have done in the past," Najib said at a press conference after the court hearing.
"There should be no doubt that any of the monies stated in the charges were lost, or that there were any elements of self-interest."
Mahathir Mohamad has been one of several senior officials, including Najib's deputy.
A particular focus is how billions of dollars go missing from the state fund 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB), founded by Najib in 2009.
Fourth of the six charges filed on Thursday involving about 4.78 billion ringgit relates to a settlement agreement between 1MDB and Abu Dhabi state fund IPIC, said Azam Baki, a deputy commissioner at the anti-graft agency.
In 2017, 1MDB had agreed to pay $ 1.2 billion to the Abu Dhabi fund, in a settlement agreement following the two over bond payments, according to the companies.
The 1MDB-linked charges include Irwan and Najib committed the breach of trust against 220 million ringgit of government funds meant for Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad, 1.3 billion ringgit for a subsidy and cash aid program and 3.3 billion ringgit of other government funds.
Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said his client did not personally benefit from these transactions.
"These were funds that were originally allocated for a purpose, but they were revised in the face of urgency and said they were placed in the country. For the purposes of settlement of the IPIC issue, an executive decision had to be undertaken very honestly, "Shafee told the court.
He said the other two charges relate to a pipeline and the East Cost Rail Link (ECRL), a $ 14 billion project that was the center of China's infrastructure push in Malaysia.
The project, signed under Najib's premiership, was suspended by Mahathir who has said the deal was "unfair" to Malaysia.
BAIL AMOUNT
The judge released Najib and Irwan after setting a lease of 1 million ringgit each.
Prosecutors had earlier asked for 3 million ringgit lease for Najib, but the first trainers said it was getting difficult.
"Shafee said, adding Najib's bank accounts remain" I would like to ask that my client be given to me because of my client, even before and in the latest case. frozen.
The judge ordered the lease be paid in 10 days.
Najib is already facing 32 money laundering, graft and breach of trust charges over transactions linked to 1MDB. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is due to begin next year.
His wife, Rosmah Mansor, was with more than two million ringgit.
U.S. authorities allege that $ 4.5 trillion was siphoned from 1MDB and that about $ 700 million was diverted into Najib's personal bank accounts.
($ 1 = 4.1660 ringgit)
Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Liz Lee; Additional reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Michael Perry
