THE prosecution in Najib Razak’s case opened proceedings today by charging the former prime minister with four counts of corruption under the MACC Act before proceeding with the other 21 charges under the anti-money laundering laws.

Police had this morning announced that Najib was facing 21 charges in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.

But the charges were increased when the former prime minister was brought into the Kuala Lumpur sessions court this afternoon.

The four charges were in relation to two transfers amounting to US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) which were channeled into Najib’s personal bank account in March 2013.

Following the four charges, Najib was slapped with nine counts of receiving illegal proceeds, seven counts of transferring the proceeds to other entities and five counts of using illegal proceeds.

The prime minister said “I understand”, pleaded his innocence and claimed trial to each of the 25 charges that were read out to him by the court interpreter.

In all, it took more than 35 minutes to read out the entire 25 charge sheets.

This is the third time that Najib has been hauled to court.

In addition to the 25 charges today, Najib was also slapped previously with seven other charges for criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering linked to RM42 million from a former 1MDB subsidiary, SRC International Sdn Bhd.

This brings to 32 the number of charges the former prime minister is currently facing.

He was granted RM1 million bail, made out in two payments, for the charges linked to SRC International.

Today’s case, involving 1MDB funds, is over 60 times the amount in the SRC International case.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib requested the cases today to be heard alongside the SRC International case.

Najib is represented by Shafee Abdullah while former judge Gopal Sri Ram is leading the prosecution team. – September 20, 2018.