Najib Razak Ordered to Defend Against 1MDB Charges

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been ordered by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to enter his defense on charges related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, involving four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering. The court has found a prima facie case against Najib, necessitating a 97-day hearing starting December 2. Najib has chosen to testify under oath, maintaining his innocence and claiming he believed the funds were political donations from the Saudi royal family. Previously convicted in a separate 1MDB-related case and serving a 12-year sentence, Najib's sentence was halved, with his potential release in 2028. Recently, Najib issued a public apology to Malaysians for the scandal, expressing regret over the debacle occurring under his leadership. The court proceedings are a continuation of the legal saga surrounding the 1MDB scandal, which has seen numerous witnesses testify over the years.