Ex-Malaysian PM charged with abuse of power

Kuala Lumpur, July 4: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged on Wednesday in a court here for his alleged role in the 1MDB scandal, involving billions of dollars being embezzled from a government fund and fraudulently spent around the world. He was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power in connection with funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), reports Efe news. The charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Najib, 64, was arrested on Tuesday at his residence in the capital, the 1MDB Task Force confirmed. The arrest on Tuesday came following an investigation into how billions of dollars went missing from state fund 1MDB, which he founded. The former leader has been accused of diverting around $681 million to his private accounts from 1MDB. (IANS)