Old-new Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad is ready to bring charges against his predecessor, Najib Razak, over funds allegedly looted from state fund 1MDB .
Six weeks on from his shock election defeat, former long-standing Malaysian leader Najib Razak will face a number of charges connected to the 1MDB probe, new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told «Reuters». Charges lined up against Najib include stealing government money, losing government money and using government money to bribe, according to Mahathir.
On the back of his unexpected election win, Mahathir immediately reopened investigations into 1MDB and Najib’s involvement in its operations. He told the news agency that his administration had since built a «perfect» case.
«He was totally responsible for 1MDB,» said Mahathir. «Nothing can be done without his signature, and we have his signature on all the deals entered into by 1MDB. Therefore, he is responsible,» he added.
Ex-PM Denial
Najib told Reuters «As far as I am concerned, I did not do anything that I thought was illegal (with regards to 1MDB)». The former PM and his wife, who have given evidence to anti-graft investigators in recent weeks, have been prevented from leaving the country, and were spotted in Langkawi, according to local media reports.
The net is also closing in on Malaysian financier Jho Low, who is a central figure in the 1MDB scandal. He is regarded as close to Najib and his family and was named by Mahathir as one of the prime targets facing charges.
U.S. officials claim that more than $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB and that about $700 million found its way into Najib’s personal bank accounts.
