PROSECUTORS charged former prime minister Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy today with tampering of the state investment fund’s final audit report.

Najib was arrested after he turned up for questioning at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on Monday afternoon but released hours later.

Arul Kanda was arrested yesterday at the MACC headquarters and was not allowed bail. Both men were charged separately in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. 

Arul Kanda headed 1MDB from January 2015 until June this year, when his services were terminated.

Auditor-General Madinah Mohamad issued a statement last month claiming alterations were made to the 1MDB audit report submitted by her predecessor, Ambrin Buang, in 2016.

She said the altered report also dropped any mention of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho at a 1MDB board meeting as well as its financial status.

Ambrin, however, has repeatedly denied doctoring the report.

Over the past two weeks, MACC has been calling up individuals in its investigations into the audit report, including former MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad, Ambrin, and officers from National Audit Department and Finance Ministry.

Najib is already facing 38 charges related to 1MDB.

The Malaysian Insight brings you live coverage of the proceedings.

12:13pm: Najib leaves the court complex.

11.30am: Arul Kanda leaves court complex in a brown BMW.

11.15am: Arul arrives at basement 1 of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex to co-sign for his bail. 

His father-in-law is expected to post bail.

10.05am: Judge Azura sets bail at RM500,000.

Shafee asks that the amount be paid in three instalments of RM200,000, another RM200,000 and RM100,000.

He says this was allowed in Najib’s other cases.

Azura denies the request and says bail must be paid today.

Gopal asks if the case can be mentioned together with Arul Kanda’s case on January 4.

Azura agrees.

9.55am: Shafee seeks judge Azura’s compassion and urge her not to impose bail.

He says Najib has also surrendered his passport to secure his attendance.

Gopal argues that the accused is the principal offender and, therefore, treated differently.

He says the fact that Arul Kanda was given RM500,000 bail does not impact on Najib’s case as the latter is the principal offender.

9.43am: Gopal Sri Ram seeks RM1 million bail.

Shafee argues that the charges are similar to Arul’s and the punishment is the same.

He says this is the first time Arul is charged and the prosecution sought bail of RM500,000 which amounts to discrimination.

Shafee adds that Najib has been imposed with RM5.5 million bail on three separate charges, saying it is grossly unfair of Gopal to suggest bail and proposes no bail.

9.40am: Ku Nan leaves court complex.

9.38am: Najib enters courtroom 9 where his charges will be read.

Najib is represented by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah while Gopal Sri Ram leads the prosecution.

Prosecution reads out the charges to Najib.

9.17am: Judge Azura Alwi enters the courtroom where Najib is to be charged.

9.10am: Lawyer Gopal Sri Ram seeks RM500,000 bail and asks Arul Kanda to surrender his passport.

Arul Kanda’s lawyer, N. Sivananthan, asks if his client could pay RM250, 000 today and the balance tomorrow.

Judge Rozina denies the request and asks Arul to pay the full sum today.

9.05am: Public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram reads out the charges to Arul Kanda.

Judge asks if he pleads guilty. Arul pleads not guilty.

8.45am: Judge Rozina Ayob to hear Arul Kanda’s case.

8.35am: Former prime minister Najib Razak arrives at the KL Sessions Court accompanied by MACC officers and a few supporters.

8.32am: Former Federal Territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor appears at the court complex.

8.05am: K. Arul Kanda arrives in the court complex accompanied by MACC officers. – December 12, 2018.