KUALA LUMPUR: Jailed former Malaysian chief Najib Razak started his protection on Monday (Dec 2) towards corruption costs linked to greater than $500 million in alleged bribes and a number of other cash laundering costs, saying they had been “politically motivated”.
The former prime minister, who’s already serving a six-year jail sentence for corruption linked to the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, faces a number of different instances linked to the monetary scandal that led to his defeat within the 2018 election.
On the witness stand, Najib informed the court docket: “The costs towards me are politically motivated.”
The case includes alleged bribes price 2.27 billion ringgit ($510 million) and 21 counts of cash laundering.
If convicted, Najib faces massive fines and sentences of as much as 20 years for every case of abuse of energy.
Dressed in a navy swimsuit with matching tie, the 71-year-old coughed throughout his opening assertion.
His spouse Rosmah Mansor sat within the public gallery.
The case includes Tanore Finance Corp, which US authorities say was used to siphon cash from 1MDB. It was allegedly used to funnel cash into Najib’s private checking account.
Najib apologized in October saying the 1MDB scandal occurred throughout his time in workplace, however maintained he had no information of unlawful transfers from the now-defunct state fund.
His lead lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, stated they had been “extra decided” than ever to battle the case.
During Monday’s proceedings, Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted Najib’s request to learn aloud his total testimony, which totals 525 pages.
