Malaysia’s Najib Razak expects more conducive atmosphere for 1MDB scandal trial

Former PM Mahathir has accused Najib’s Umno of engineering a return to power so that its officials escape conviction in the multibillion-dollar scandal

Najib said he don’t want any undue pressure put on the judges for political reasons as he’s hopeful of getting a fair trial

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Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:09pm, 4 Mar 2020Updated: 7:17pm, 4 Mar 2020

On trial for corruption that includes the multibillion-dollar 1MDB fraud, former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak said on Wednesday that the fall of the government that ousted him meant he now expected an atmosphere more conducive to a fair hearing.

Najib was voted out in 2018 amid anger over corruption in the Southeast Asian country, but the alliance that toppled him fell apart at the weekend amid turmoil following the resignation of 94-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Najib, 66, denies the charges against him and says they were politically motivated.

Mahathir has accused Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (Umno) of engineering a return to power so that its officials escape conviction in the 1MDB scandal.

When he took power for a second time two years ago, Mahathir accused Najib of playing a central role in the 1MDB scandal.

“I would expect that the atmosphere would be more conducive towards a fair trial,” Najib said.