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Najib Razak’s lawyer charged with money-laundering as Malaysian anti-corruption agents pursue 1MDB funds

A total of US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, which is at the centre of money-laundering probes in at least six countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore

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Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak. Photo: Reuters

The lawyer of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was charged with money laundering on Thursday by anti-graft agents looking into how billions of dollars went missing from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

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Muhammad Shafee is leading a defence team for Najib who faces charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power at SRC International, a former 1MDB unit. Najib has denied any wrongdoing.

In charges read out at a court in Kuala Lumpur, Shafee was accused of money laundering for allegedly receiving proceeds totalling 9.5 million ringgit (US$2.29 million) from illegal activities through cheques issued by Najib.

The charges were brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which is investigating alleged fraud and misappropriation at 1MDB, a fund founded by Najib.

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1MDB is at the centre of money-laundering probes in at least six countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore. A total of US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by high-level officials of the fund and their associates, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

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