Najib’s RM2.28bil 1MDB trial concludes, verdict set for Dec 26

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s graft trial involving RM2.28bil linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has concluded after 10 days of final submissions. The hearing wrapped up on Tuesday after both parties completed their submissions. At the end of proceedings, the court was informed that minor issues still needed to be addressed in written submissions, as...

Najib says he returned US$620mil of unutilised funds with Bank Negara’s approval

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court hears that Datuk Seri Najib Razak returned US$620mil of unutilised funds from a donation to the source with Bank Negara’s approval. Najib told the Court that the funds he received were used for political and social welfare purposes and stressed that he did not hold any offshore accounts. "Equally shocking is that...

MACC blocks RM486.4mil in Swiss accounts linked to 1MDB funds

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has obtained a court order to block transactions involving US$115.3mil or about RM486.4mil kept in three Swiss bank accounts under the name of Prince Turki Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud. In a statement on Friday (Oct 10), MACC said the restraining order was granted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to...

Najib’s 1MDB trial: ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng will be called as key defence witness, Shafee confirms

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will call ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng as a key defence witness in his ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial, his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed. Shafee also said Najib’s legal team had initially faced difficulties tracking down Ng, revealing that  there was uncertainty over...

Court grants Rosmah leave to include govt, police as third parties in missing jewellery suit

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has granted leave to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to include the Malaysian Government and police as third parties in the US$14.57mil lawsuit filed against her by Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL over more than 40 missing pieces of jewellery. A three-judge panel consisting of Justices Datuk P. Ravinthran, Datuk Dr...

House arrest allowed under existing Malaysian law, confirms Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR: House arrest is permitted in Malaysia, and no new laws are necessary for its implementation, according to Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms). Azalina clarified that, per the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), Section 3 of the Prisons Act 1995 allows house arrest as a form...

‘I only told the truth’, ex-1MDB chairman tells court

PUTRAJAYA: The former chairman of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD) told the High Court that his testimony as a defence witness for Datuk Seri Najib Razak was only to tell the truth of what transpired in the company during his chairmanship. Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin testified that he appeared before the court to tell the...

1MDB withdraws civil suit against Riza Aziz, two others

KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has withdrawn its suit against Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, the stepson of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for alleged misappropriation of US$248mil in funds to finance movie productions and purchase various real estate. Counsel Rabindra S. Nathan, representing 1MDB and its three subsidiaries, told the High Court that...

‘I assume donation letters from Saudi Arabia are genuine,’ says Najib

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the High Court here on Wednesday (Jan 22) that he did not inquire as to the authenticity of the donation letters from Saudi Arabia as he assumed the letters were genuine. The former premier said he received the letters from his (then) principal private secretary Datuk Azlin Alias (now...

Najib denies pressuring 1MDB to ally with PetroSaudi through phone call

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has denied exerting his influence through a phone call to pressure 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) into entering a joint venture with PetroSaudi International (PSI) in 2009. The High Court in Putrajaya was told of a phone call made by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho to Najib. During the call,...