Najib at High Court again for 1MDB audit report tampering trial

 

This is the second time that Najib Razak is appearing at the High Court following his jailing on Tuesday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak has arrived at the High Court here for his 1MDB audit report tampering trial.

This is the second time that he is appearing in the High Court here to answer 1MDB-related charges since his jailing on Tuesday.

He was seen alighting from a police SUV at about 8.50am, with the vehicle which brought him to court accompanied by a prisons department van.

A handful of supporters greeted him before he was led to the witness’ room, where he is being held until the trial starts.

Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, was seen arriving at 9.20am.

Najib is charged with alleged abuse of power as the then prime minister and finance minister in February 2016 to obtain immunity from legal action and causing amendments to the finalised 1MDB audit report before it was tabled at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting in March 2016.

On June 24, the court allowed the prosecution’s application to examine former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda, who is charged with abetting Najib. He remains a co-accused.

Najib was also at the High Court here yesterday for his 1MDB trial, where he faces four charges of using his position as then prime minister to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds, and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

He was sent to Kajang Prison on Tuesday after the Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence of 12 years’ jail and a RM210 million fine in the SRC International case.

He was convicted in 2020 on seven charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC. - FMT