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Agence France-Presse

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was a “victim” of the multimillion dollar 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal that saw state coffers drained on his watch, his lawyer said on Tuesday as Najib gave evidence in his own corruption trial.
Huge sums were stolen from the sovereign wealth fund, allegedly by the ex-prime minister and his cronies, and spent on everything from high-end real estate to artwork.
Najib’s coalition was ousted at the polls last year after six decades in power, largely due to public anger over the scandal.
He has since been arrested and hit with dozens of charges linked to the looting of the investment vehicle.
Prosecution will show Najib Razak ‘acted as one’ with Jho Low to loot state fund
“Najib is not part of the conspiracy. He is a victim as much as others in the 1MDB scandal,” his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Adbullah told reporters.
“The leader of the pack is Jho Low,” he said, referring to fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, a member of Najib’s inner circle who allegedly masterminded the elaborate fraud that spanned from the United States to Switzerland, Dubai and Singapore.
“The crux of my defence is the entire scheme is designed by Jho Low,” Shafee added.
Low “portrayed himself as someone influential in the Middle East countries”, Najib told the packed courtroom, speaking calmly during five hours of testimony.
“I thought his influence and connections will help 1MDB achieve its goals and attract investments.”




Najib, 66, went on trial in April over the controversy, in a case centred on the transfer of 42 million ringgit (US$10.1 million) from former 1MDB unit SRC International into his bank accounts.
The former leader arrived at the court wearing a blue suit and held a brief Muslim prayer with supporters at the building’s steps.
Prosecution will show Najib Razak ‘acted as one’ with Jho Low to loot state fund
Defence proceedings began with Najib giving testimony under oath. He will be cross-examined by prosecutors and is expected to be on the witness box for around four days.
He began his testimony reading from a 243-page statement, recalling his long career in politics and ministerial posts he held since 1978, including the post of finance minister, and giving lengthy background on the setting up of 1MDB and SRC.
Defence lawyers had earlier said it would take two days for him to read the entire statement, but as his testimony went on, it appeared it would take longer. He was able to read only 70 pages in his statement by the end of the day. The trial will resume on Wednesday.

Najib is facing four charges of corruption and three counts of money-laundering in the trial. Each charge of corruption carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, and each money-laundering count is punishable by a term of up to 15 years. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors have argued that Najib wielded huge influence over the unit and knew that stolen money was being funnelled from it into his accounts.
But Najib told the court: “I, in an absolute and unequivocal manner, like to state that I do not have any personal interest in SRC, except in a professional manner as the prime minister and minister of finance and in the interest of the public.”
Explained: Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal
Lawyer Shafee said they will prove that Najib “did not misappropriate funds … either directly or indirectly” and “did not act dishonestly”.
The amount transferred to his account “was done without his knowledge or involvement” as the transactions “were being manipulated by third parties without his knowledge and approval”, Shafee said.

The case is one of several 1MDB-linked trials investigating Najib’s conduct. The biggest opened in August, centring on allegations he illicitly obtained over US$500 million from the fund.
US authorities who are also investigating the fraud, as money was allegedly laundered through the American financial system, believe US$4.5 billion was looted from the fund.


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Malaysia 1MDB scandal: ex-PM Najib says bribery, power abuse charges ‘politically motivated’

Malaysia 1MDB scandal

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak was a ‘victim’ of 1MDB scandal, lawyer argues

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Photo: Reuters

FILE - In this April 14, 2018, file photo, protesters hold portraits of Jho Low illustrated as a pirate during a protest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The United States Justice Department on Thursday charged the fugitive Malaysian financier in a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions of dollars from a Malaysian investment fund created to promote economic development projects in that country. The three-count indictment charges Low Taek Jho, who is also known as Jho Low, with misappropriating money from the state-owned fund and using it for bribes and kickbacks to foreign officials, to pay for luxury real estate, art and jewelry in the United States and to fund Hollywood movies, including "The Wolf of Wall Street." (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf, File)

Najib Razak, Malaysia's former prime minister, center, offers prayers with his supporters as he arrives at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. Najib is set to give his testimony to defend himself against charges of corruption involving a former 1MDB unit. Photographer: Samsul Said/Bloomberg

1MDB scandal: prosecution will show Najib Razak ‘acted as one’ with Jho Low to loot state fund

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak. Photo: Reuters

Documents pertaining to the trial of Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak over the 1MDB corruption allegations are brought to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on August 28, 2019. - Malaysian ex-leader Najib Razak's most significant 1MDB trial begins on August 28, centring on allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars linked to the state fund ended up in his bank account. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)

Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib Razak will testify in his defence after judge rules first 1MDB trial will proceed

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak. Photo: AFP

Najib trial at a glance

Malaysia ‘won’t go to war’ with country hosting 1MDB fugitive Jho Low, says Mahathir Mohamad

Jho Low. Photo: AP

Malaysian police chief Abdul Hamid Bador. Source: Royal Malaysian Police Facebook page

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE Royalty-free stock photo ID: 773633353 Aerial high altitude view of the iconic walled capital, Nicosia in Cyprus - Image

Malaysian police claim Jho Low is staying in an unnamed country which is refusing to cooperate with its 1MDB investigations. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Najib is testifying for the first time, and began by reading 70 pages of a 243-page statement
His lawyer told court that Najib ‘did not misappropriate funds’ and ‘did not act dishonestly’



Najib is testifying for the first time, having pleaded not guilty to the charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power.


Malaysia

Corruption in Asia

Najib Razak

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak was a ‘victim’ of 1MDB scandal, lawyer argues

Najib is testifying for the first time, and began by reading 70 pages of a 243-page statement His lawyer told court that Najib ‘did not misappropriate funds’ and ‘did not act dishonestly’

Najib is testifying for the first time, and began by reading 70 pages of a 243-page statement

His lawyer told court that Najib ‘did not misappropriate funds’ and ‘did not act dishonestly’