Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today in relation to the accusation he ordered the tampering of the 1MDB audit report.
Najib was charged with receiving gratification in the form of protection from ethical, civil or criminal actions against him as a public officer in relation to 1MDB, by ordering the alteration of the final audit report before it is presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The alleged offence was committed by Najib between Feb 22 and 26, 2016 at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Under Section 24 of the same Act, Najib stands to face a maximum 20 years’ jail or a fine or RM10,000 if convicted.
Najib claimed trial to the charge before Sessions judge Azura Alwi.
The prosecution is led by appointed prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram and Ahmad Akram Gharib.
Meanwhile, in another courtroom, former 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy was charged with abetting Najib in the offence, on the same day and time, before Sessions judge Rozina Ayob.
Arul Kanda also stands to face the same punishment if convicted.
He was allowed to be released on bail of RM500,000, to be paid today, and he was also ordered to surrender his passport.
Najib is represented by senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah while N Sivananthan appeared for Arul Kanda.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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