UPDATE: Najib has been charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, and one count of using his position for gratification.
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Former prime minister Najib Razak has now arrived in court to face charges. Local media are reporting that Najib will face several charges pertaining to offenses punishable under two Acts.
Earlier this morning, the former PM left Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) offices for the Jalan Duta Courts Complex in a red Proton at 7:37am.
Police have allowed media into the courtroom, with two rows of bench being reserved for two dozen reporters. Two front rows of the public gallery have been reserved for Najib’s friends and family.
Key sources withing the MACC have told local media that they believe Najib will be charged under the Anti Money-Laundering Act, as well as the Penal Code.
Other sources have stated that he will face up to four counts of criminal breach of trust, as well as money laundering charges involving RM42 million (US$10,600 million), linked to the company SRC International Sdn Bhd.
State news agency Bernama has said the former premier is expected to face more than 10 counts of committing criminal breach of trust linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd, an energy company that was originally a subsidiary of 1MDB, which Najib founded.
“Najib is the first (former) prime minister ever to be charged in court in the history of Malaysia,” said Tian Chua, vice president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), a key political party in the current ruling coalition.
“It signals a new era where no one in public office will be immune from punitive action if they abuse power,” he added.
According to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, $10.6 million originating from SRC was transferred to Najib’s personal bank accounts, a fraction of hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB that was allegedly funneled to him.
Attorney General Tommy Thomas will be leading the prosecution, assisted by senior AG Chambers legal counsel Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria and Datuk Ishak Mohd Yusoff.
Najib is not without his core supporters: Two hundred pro-Najib citizens have gathered outside the courtroom, having spent the night holding vigils for their fallen leader.
Perhaps sensing that the end was nigh and justice would soon be served with an arrest, he issued an over two-minute-long video, apologizing for not having “done better,” and declared that all were equal in the eyes of the law. He even went as far as to evoke divine justice, saying that consequences awaited those who spread “slander.”
Adding that his home was raided for day, and that goods had been confiscated, he reiterated that none of this was conclusive.
Set to a backdrop of Najib praying, with his mother, and the occasional clip of the rakyat (people) voting, he declared that Allah is all-knowing, all-merciful and all-compassionate.
Having lost the election by a landslide amidst growing discontent of high costs of living, and seemingly rampant, unabashed corruption, Najib and his family members have been subject to police raids by investigators attempting to piece together a billions-of-dollars-long money trail.
Shocking images of luxury items and bags filled with cash worth millions of dollars seized from his properties linked to him.
