MACC arrests Najib over 1MDB case

PUTRAJAYA: Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who was summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today will be charged for the misuse of government funds related to the RM2.6 billion alleged donation from a wealthy Arab royal.
Najib arrived at the MACC headquarters here at 3pm and was arrested about an hour later.
Sources said he will be held overnight before taken to court on Thursday to face the charges.
Najib was taken to the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman today evening for further processing as the case was jointly investigated by the police and the MACC.
It is yet to be known if he will be held for the night at Bukit Aman or at the MACC lock-up.
The MACC said Najib was arrested after the Attorney-General Chambers issued an order to charge him.
The commission said Najib will face several charges for power abuse under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act and will be taken to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court at 3pm on Thursday.
Up until last week, Najib denied the funds originated from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and continued to insist the RM2.6 billion which 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 use for the 13th general elections in 2013 and was returned to the royal family four months later.
Since July, Najib was arrested twice on separate occasions and slapped with seven charges for money laundering and power abuse in the RM42 million scandal involving former 1MDB subsidiary company SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The defeat of Barisan Nasional in the 14th General Election spelt trouble for Najib when barely a week after the new government took over the administration of the country, investigations on the multi-billion ringgit scandal went full scale.
Dozens of raids were conducted by the police and MACC including at Najib's house, three condominium units at the Pavilion Residences and other premises linked to the scandal.
Police announced that up to RM1.1 billion in cash, jewellery, designer handbags, watches and other luxury items had been seized from Najib's house, the condominium units belonging to his family and a safe house near his official residence in Putrajaya.