Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak. REUTERS
Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak was charged with three counts of money laundering on Wednesday, in connection with a multi-billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The charges are connected to the transfer of RM42 million ($10.3 million) from SRC International, a 1MDB subsidiary, to Najib’s personal bank accounts, state news agency Bernama said.
The charges come a month after Najib was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one charge of abuse of power.
Najib, 65, whose government was plagued by scandal, was soundly defeated in a shock election result in May by 93-year-old veteran politician Mahathir Mohamad.
On Wednesday, Najib was accused of receiving three transfers totaling RM42 million — of RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million “which were proceeds from unlawful activities,” Bernama reported.