Malaysia PM faces potential criminal charge over graft allegations

Malaysia’s Prime Minister NajibTun Razak is facing a potential criminal charge over allegations that millions of dollars were transferred into his personal bank accounts from an indebted state fund.

Malaysia’s Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said late Saturday that a task force investigating the troubled state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) had passed him documents related to allegations that some USD 700 million were wired from entities linked to the fund into Najib’s accounts.

“I confirm that I have received documents from the special task force related to 1MDB, including documents related to the allegations of channeling of funds to accounts owned by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak,” Abdul Gani said.

According to Abdul Gani, the task force comprises members of the country’s anti-corruption commission, police and central bank.

“I have advised the special task force to follow up on the next course of action,” he said, without elaborating.

Najib, who founded the 1MDB and heads its board of advisers, has been under growing political pressure over the fund, which amassed USD 11 billion in debt.

It is the first time the Malaysian leader is facing criminal allegations.

Abdul Gani’s remarks came a day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Malaysian government investigators looking into the 1MDB’s activities had traced almost USD 700 million in deposits into what they believe are Najib’s personal accounts.

Critics, led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, have expressed concerns about the 1MDB’s massive debt and alleged lack of transparency.

Najib has dismissed the allegations as “political sabotage.”

His office said on Friday, “Despite the Prime Minister’s successful stewardship of Malaysia’s economy against global headwinds… there have been concerted efforts by certain individuals to undermine confidence in our economy, tarnish the government, and remove a democratically elected Prime Minister.”

“These latest claims, attributed to unnamed investigators as a basis to attack the Prime Minister, are a continuation of this political sabotage,” the office added.

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