Malaysia launches the main graft trial against Najib Razak

Kuala Lumpur: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appeared before the court on Wednesday for the first day of the main trial launched against him for his alleged involvement in a sprawling corruption ring centered around the state’s sovereign wealth fund. Najib Razak, 66, faces a total of 42 charges related to the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Berhard (IMDB) fund that ended up in his private bank accounts, a scandal that caused the politician’s downfall in the general elections held in May. In the trial that started Wednesday - the most significant of the court proceedings in this case so far - prosecutors charged Najib Razak with 21 counts of money laundering and four counts of abuse of power for his alleged embezzlement of 2.28 billion ringgit (around $546 million) from the IMDB fund. (IANS)

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