This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44706842
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Malaysia's ex-PM Najib charged with corruption over 1MDB | Malaysia's ex-PM Najib charged with corruption over 1MDB |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been charged with corruption, in a dramatic fall from grace two months after he lost office. | |
| He pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal breach of trust and one of abuse of power, and was freed on bail. | |
| Mr Najib is accused of taking $700m (£517m) from a state fund he set up. | |
| Police have recovered $273m in luxury goods and cash from raids on properties linked to Mr Najib. He and his wife say the items were legally acquired. | |
| A new investigation into the state development fund 1MDB began after his shock election loss in May. | |
| Mr Najib was arrested by anti-corruption authorities on Tuesday and spent the night in detention. | Mr Najib was arrested by anti-corruption authorities on Tuesday and spent the night in detention. |
| In a video posted on Twitter a day earlier, he appealed to the public not to believe the reports, saying that not all of the accusations were true. "I have not had a chance to defend myself," he said. | In a video posted on Twitter a day earlier, he appealed to the public not to believe the reports, saying that not all of the accusations were true. "I have not had a chance to defend myself," he said. |
| The charges against him each carry a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. | |
| The bail amount was set at 1m Malaysian ringgit ($250,000; £190,000). | The bail amount was set at 1m Malaysian ringgit ($250,000; £190,000). |
| 'Never thought I'd see the day' | 'Never thought I'd see the day' |
| Michael Bristow, BBC News, Kuala Lumpur | Michael Bristow, BBC News, Kuala Lumpur |
| Several hundred people gathered outside Kuala Lumpur High Court to see Mr Najib. Some of his supporters turned up, as did dozens of journalists. | Several hundred people gathered outside Kuala Lumpur High Court to see Mr Najib. Some of his supporters turned up, as did dozens of journalists. |
| There were also onlookers; people who had come simply to see a former prime minister appear in court. | There were also onlookers; people who had come simply to see a former prime minister appear in court. |
| Mr Najib showed little emotion as he pushed his way through the crowd to the court's main door. | Mr Najib showed little emotion as he pushed his way through the crowd to the court's main door. |
| It's not clear if it was his decision to walk in using the front entrance, or whether he had been forced to. | It's not clear if it was his decision to walk in using the front entrance, or whether he had been forced to. |
| Inside, other cases were taking place, but the main interest was on Mr Najib. | Inside, other cases were taking place, but the main interest was on Mr Najib. |
| Ushers constantly tried to silence excited people gathered in corridors; the noise was disturbing other cases. | Ushers constantly tried to silence excited people gathered in corridors; the noise was disturbing other cases. |
| Lawyers waiting to be called for their own hearings wandered over to try to get a look at the former prime minister. "I never thought I'd see the day," said one. | Lawyers waiting to be called for their own hearings wandered over to try to get a look at the former prime minister. "I never thought I'd see the day," said one. |
| 1MDB, set up by Mr Najib in 2009, was meant to turn the capital, Kuala Lumpur, into a financial hub and boost the economy through strategic investments. | 1MDB, set up by Mr Najib in 2009, was meant to turn the capital, Kuala Lumpur, into a financial hub and boost the economy through strategic investments. |
| But it started to attract negative attention in early 2015 after it missed payments for some of the $11bn it owed to banks and bondholders. | But it started to attract negative attention in early 2015 after it missed payments for some of the $11bn it owed to banks and bondholders. |
| Then the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported it had seen a paper trail that allegedly traced close to $700m from the fund to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. | Then the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported it had seen a paper trail that allegedly traced close to $700m from the fund to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. |
| Billions of dollars are still unaccounted for. | Billions of dollars are still unaccounted for. |
| Mr Najib has always denied the corruption charges and had been cleared by Malaysian authorities while in power, but he is being investigated by several other countries. | Mr Najib has always denied the corruption charges and had been cleared by Malaysian authorities while in power, but he is being investigated by several other countries. |
| The allegations played a central role in his defeat to former ally, 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, in May. | The allegations played a central role in his defeat to former ally, 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, in May. |
| Mr Mahathir pledged to re-open the investigation and Mr Najib was banned from leaving Malaysia. | Mr Mahathir pledged to re-open the investigation and Mr Najib was banned from leaving Malaysia. |
| Raids in recent weeks have been carried out across properties linked to Mr Najib and his wife. Police say the seizure of valuables was the biggest in Malaysian history. | |
| Jewellery accounted for the biggest portion of the seizure, with the most expensive item being a $1.6m diamond and gold necklace. | Jewellery accounted for the biggest portion of the seizure, with the most expensive item being a $1.6m diamond and gold necklace. |