Joint trial to be held for former Malaysian PM, former 1MDB CEO
The Sessions Court of Kuala Lumpur decided on January 4 that a joint trial will be held for both former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy for allegedly tampering a 1MDB audit report.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (Source: VNA)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Sessions Court of Kuala Lumpur decided on January 4 that a joint trial will be held for both former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy for allegedly tampering a 1MDB audit report.
The decision was made following the prosecution's request. The trial is forecast to take place in early March.
Najib was accused of using his position as prime minister to order the then Auditor-General to remove certain matters from the report before submitting it to the National Audit Department.
Meanwhile, Arul Kanda allegedly abetted Najib in using the latter’s position as then prime minister to order the amendment to the report.
On November 25, Auditor-General Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad revealed that the final audit report on 1MDB had been tampered with and the matters dropped from the report were on the presence of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, at a 1MDB board meeting.
Jho Low, who used to do consulting work for the 1MDB, was accused of money laundering relating to the fund by both Malaysia and the US.
Najib faced with a total of 38 charges of corruption, money laundering and breach of trust since losing power, most of them related to the 1MDB.
Najib founded the 1MDB investment fund in 2009, supposedly to serve Malaysia’s development through global partnerships and foreign direct investment.
However, it became the centre of a money laundering scandal, allegedly causing losses of up to 3.7 billion USD and leading to probes into the financial markets in several countries such as the US, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia and China.
After assuming power, Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad declared to give priority to addressing corruption and taking back losses of the fund. The Malaysian government has set up a task force to look into the scandal with help from the US, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada and other countries.-VNA
You should also see
Airports to offer 9,000 domestic flights during upcoming holidays
Vietnamese airlines are expected to operate 9,000 flights on domestic routes to meet the travel demand during the upcoming National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).
See more
World
Vietnam appeals for maximum self-restraint, end to hostilities in Middle East
A representative of Vietnam appealed to all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint and to end hostilities, while addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on the Middle East and Palestine situation on March 25.
World
Indonesia’s coffee exports surpass imports
Indonesia’s coffee exports have surpassed imports for 47 consecutive months since May 2020, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has reported.
World
Thailand expects wave of tourists during Golden Week
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimates that about 996,000 foreign tourists will visit the Southeast Asian country between April 26 and May 5, known as the Golden Week holidays in Japan, during which Chinese tourists also prefer to travel overseas.
World
Argentinian media praises Dien Bien Phu Victory
Argentinian newspapers have called Vietnam's Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954) a symbol of the national liberation movement of oppressed and colonialised peoples worldwide.
World
Laos speeds up granting licences to foreign workers
Laos's Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare plans to issue visas to illegal foreign workers and extend permits to legal ones so that they can continue to work in the country.
