Najib hit with 25 new charges

Kuala Lumpur, September 20 

Malaysia’s ex-leader Najib Razak was hit with 25 new charges of money laundering and abuse of power linked to the 1MDB mega-scandal Thursday, including allegations hundreds of millions of dollars were transferred to his personal bank account.

As hundreds of banner-waving supporters gathered outside the Kuala Lumpur court, Najib pleaded not guilty to all counts, which represented the most serious in a string of charges he has faced over the alleged looting of state fund 1MDB.

Najib, whose shock election defeat in May ended his coalition’s six-decade stranglehold on power in Malaysia, was accused of abusing his position to receive funds totally 2.3 billion ringgit ($555 million) between 2011 and 2014.

The suspicious transfers to his accounts were a key chapter in the scandal, and Najib has previously insisted they were a donation from Saudi royalty-an explanation that was widely derided. — AFP