Najib arrested by MACC, to be charged today

PUTRAJAYA: Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday and will be charged in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today over the misuse of government funds related to the RM2.6 billion alleged donation from a wealthy Arab royal.

Najib was summoned to the MACC headquarters here at 3pm and arrested about an hour later.

He was later taken to the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman for “further processing” as the case is j ointly investigated by police and the MACC.

He was expected to be detained overnight but it is not known whether he would be held at Bukit Aman or at the MACC lock-up.

MACC said Najib was arrested after the Attorney-General’s Chambers issued an order to charge him. It said Najib will face several charges of power abuse under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act.

Up until last week, Najib had denied the RM2.6 billion is from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and continued to insist the money he received in his personal bank account was a donation from Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz Al-Saud on behalf of Saudi King Abdullah Abdul Aziz in 2011 and 2012.

He said it was meant for the 13th general election in 2013 and was returned to the royal family four months later. – by Charles Ramendran