Najib Razak’s 1MDB Trial: Former PM Links Fund Misappropriation to Barisan Nasional’s Defeat

Former Prime Minister’s Testimony

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak has told the High Court hearing his 1MDB trial that issues surrounding the sovereign fund may have been “one of the reasons” for Barisan Nasional’s defeat at the 14th general election in 2018. Najib was aware that the misappropriation of 1MDB’s funds was a topic heavily debated by the public, both here and outside of Malaysia.

Public Perception and Rumors

“They (the public) tried to link it (the misappropriation of 1MDB funds) to me (but the RM2.6 billion donation) had nothing to do with 1MDB,” Najib said under cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib. “I couldn’t control the rumours,” he added.

Charges and Denial

Najib also told the court that he was first taken to the sessions court to face four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges on September 20, 2018. He said the charges were read to him but he could not recall whether they were read out in Bahasa Malaysia. He denied the charges and maintained his “not guilty” plea when the case was transferred to the High Court.

Context of 1MDB Charges

Asked by Akram whether “1MDB” was stated in the charges, Najib confirmed it was mentioned but disputed the context in which it was used. Najib: “I don’t understand (the context).” Akram: “We are not asking you about the context. I will do that later. I just want to know whether ‘1MDB’ appears in the charges.”

Next Hearing

The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah tomorrow. Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion which were deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

Conclusion

Najib’s testimony has shed light on the public’s perception of the 1MDB scandal and its potential impact on the 2018 general election. The trial is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the charges against Najib.

FAQs

* What is 1MDB?
+ 1MDB is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Malaysian government in 2009 to invest in strategic assets and projects.
* What are the charges against Najib Razak?
+ Najib is facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion which were deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
* What is the significance of the 1MDB scandal?
+ The 1MDB scandal is a major corruption scandal that has implicated several high-ranking officials, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak. It has also led to the downfall of the Barisan Nasional government in the 2018 general election.