Former Malaysian PM arrested for corruption
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested by anti-corruption investigators on Tuesday afternoon in a development likely to lead to the former leader's charging with corruption offences.
A source with knowledge of the inquiry into Najib said that investigators had arranged for the former PM to hand himself into the anti-corruption agency on Tuesday.
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak gestures leaves the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Office in Putrajaya last month. Photo: AP
Last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said authorities were seeking to bring embezzlement and bribery charges against Najib after an inquiry into the suspected theft of billions of dollars from the state-run fund 1MDB.
US Department of Justice civil lawsuits are seeking to seize $US1.7 billion in real estate, art works and other luxuries allegedly bought with money looted from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund, over which Najib exercised significant control.
Mahathir, 92, defied expectations to unseat Najib in Malaysia’s recent election.
After his election defeat, Najib stepped down as chairman of Barisan Nasional, the coalition that has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1957, and as president of the United Malays National Organisation, the largest party within that coalition.
Malaysia's Immigration Department also slapped a travel ban on the scandal-ridden former prime minister and his wife Rosmah Mansor.
Rosmah Mansor, wife of Najib Razak. Photo: AP
The ban on Najib and his wife leaving the country came shortly after he announced plans for a short holiday.
A leaked flight manifesto showed Najib and Rosmah were due to leave on a private jet to Jakarta, fuelling rumours he was fleeing the country to escape possible prosecution over the 1MDB scandal.
Mahathir, now the world's oldest elected leader at 92, has said his government would not go seek revenge over the 1MDB fiasco but that Najib would have to face the court if he was found to be responsible.
The fund was started by Najib when he took power in 2009, but it accumulated billions in debts and is being investigated in the US and several other countries. US investigators said Najib's associates looted $US4.5 billion from the fund, of which $US681 million landed in Najib's bank account and some $US30 million used to buy jewellery for his wife.
Najib denies any wrongdoing. He sacked critics in his government including an attorney-general and a deputy prime minister and muzzled the media. The new Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali cleared Najib in 2016, saying the money was a donation from the Saudi royal family and that most of it was returned.
Mahathir, who is due to name his cabinet later on Saturday, has indicated that Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi would be axed for hiding evidence of wrongdoing.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
#FREENAJIB fund launched
The group, which is led by former Umno federal territories youth chief Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii (right), said Najib needed financial aid because the family’s accounts had been frozen. Pix by Luqman Hakim Zubir
KUALA LUMPUR: A group calling itself “Solidariti Bersama Datuk Najib” has launched the #FREENAJIB campaign to raise funds for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s remaining RM500,000 bail.
The group, which is led by former Umno federal territories youth chief Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii, said Najib needed financial aid because the family’s accounts had been frozen.
“It is hard for Najib (and his family) to raise money for the bail in the next few days.
“His family already posted RM500,000 and he needs another RM500,000 by 3pm on Monday (July 9).
“We hope to collect the money through this initiative,” he told reporters at the launch of the fund near Najib’s home here this afternoon.
Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii (second left) with some of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s supporters walked out from his residence after launching the #FREENAJIB campaign fund. Pix by Luqman Hakim Zubir
Razlan said that the fund’s launch was timely as there were still many Umno members and other Malaysians who sympathised with Najib’s plight.
“Many people have called me personally asking how they can help Najib.
“Some of them have contributed RM2 and RM3 each.
“Many Umno members and the public sympathise with Najib and wish to help him post bail,” he said, adding that the fund drive would be closed at 12pm on Monday because the deadline for Najib’s family to post the remainder RM500,000 bail was 3pm that day.
On Wednesday, the High Court here imposed RM1 million bail on Najib, who faced four charges involving abuse of power and criminal breach of trust of RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s monies.
SRC International used to be a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which is the subject of criminal investigations here and abroad.
Razlan said they had already managed to raise RM11,000 so far.
More at https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/387674/freenajib-fund-launched