NAJIB Razak, Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Hasanah Abdul Hamid were charged with criminal breach of trust as they are believed to have used some of the money entrusted to them for personal gain.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki said all six charges against former prime minister Najib and his trusted lieutenant, Irwan, were over the duo’s alleged misuse of government funds.

“All six charges are CBT as the money was used for other purposes. It is government funds, so that is why the three were charged with CBT,” Azam said after the court proceedings today.

“In fact, the lawyers confirmed during the proceedings that the third and sixth charges are related to the settlement with IPIC. I didn’t say that, the lawyers did,” he said, referring to transactions between state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the International Petroleum Investment Company in London.

On the first and second charges, Azam confirmed that they are related to an infrastructure project given to a foreign company.

He did not give more details.

Azam played down the defendants’ claims that they did not benefit from any transaction.

“Wait for the trial. I cannot say whether they benefited. Let’s wait for the trial.”

Asked about the alleged misappropriation of RM50.22 million by Hasanah, Azam said a portion was misused by the former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation director.

“I cannot tell you where exactly the money originated from, but it was government funds. It was misused.”

Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Irwan were released on a RM1 million bail each after being slapped with six counts of CBT involving RM6.63 billion.

Kuala Lumpur sessions court judge Azman Ahmad imposed the bail with two sureties for Irwan, and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court.

He also ordered both accused to settle RM500,000 of the bail today, with the remainder to be paid within 10 days.

Irwan’s son and son-in-law were his bailors.

The charges carry a combined maximum jail term of 120 years, if the sentences run consecutively, and a fine upon conviction.

Hasanah was charged with one count of CBT in relation to the misappropriation of funds at the Prime Minister’s Office ahead of the 14th general election.

The ex-spy chief, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by counsel Shaharudin Ali, Mohd Khairul Azam and Imran Khairi Osman.

MACC last month arrested Hasanah and eight others from the spy agency.

It seized RM26.16 million from several locations in the course of its investigations.

The largest stash of RM16.9 million was found in a rented condominium in Cyberjaya.

Hasanah was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code for CBT committed by public servants or agents, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.

Azman set bail at RM500,000 with two sureties, and ordered that the amount be paid today.

He also ordered Hasanah to surrender her passport to the court until the trial is over. – October 25, 2018.