Malaysia prepares to lay charges against Najib

AAP
Jun 19, 2018, updated Jun 19, 2018

Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak speaks to the media after being questioned at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Putrajaya on May 24. Photo: AAP

Embezzlement and bribery with government money are among the charges that Malaysia is looking to bring against former prime minister Najib Razak following a probe into funds allegedly looted from the state-run fund 1MDB, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says.

Dr Mahathir told Reuters in an interview Malaysian investigators already “have an almost perfect case” against the principal suspects who had defrauded 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and misappropriated billions of dollars in public funds.

He also described Mr Najib, who had founded 1MDB, as playing a central role.

“He was totally responsible for 1MDB. Nothing can be done without his signature, and we have his signature on all the deals entered into by 1MDB. Therefore, he is responsible,” Dr Mahathir said.

Having retired as prime minister in 2003 after 22 years in power, 92-year-old Dr Mahathir came out of retirement and joined the opposition to topple Mr Najib in an election last month.

Following his stunning victory, Dr Mahathir has reopened investigations into 1MDB and Mr Najib’s involvement in its operations.

As a result of an anti-kleptocracy probe, the US Department of Justice has alleged more than $US4.5 billion ($A6.1 billion) was misappropriated from 1MDB and that $US700 million of that ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.

Dr Mahathir has barred Najib from leaving Malaysia, and police have searched properties linked to him, while anti-graft investigators have questioned Mr Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Mr Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and repeated last week that he did not take money from 1MDB.

Mr Najib’s spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Investigators are looking to bring “a number of charges” against Mr Najib, Dr Mahathir said, adding those charges would be based on abuse of power when he was prime minister.

They could include “embezzlement, stealing government money, losing government money and a number of other charges. Using government money to bribe. All those things”, he said.