Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, walks into a courtroom at Kuala Lumpur High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Najib appeared in court Wednesday for the start of his corruption trial, exactly 10 years after he was first elected to office only to suffer a spectacular defeat last year on allegations he pilfered millions of dollars from a state investment fund. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia 鈥� Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appeared in court Wednesday for the start of his corruption trial, exactly 10 years after he was first elected to office only to suffer a spectacular defeat last year on allegations he pilfered millions of dollars from a state investment fund.
The trial was originally due to start in February but was delayed by procedural matters. Najib鈥檚 lawyers filed an urgent motion to challenge the charges, which include criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power. The High Court judge said he will hear the application at a later date and ordered the trial to proceed.
Ten years ago this Wednesday, Najib became Malaysia鈥檚 sixth prime minister but anger over the 1MDB investment fund scandal led to his electoral loss last May. U.S. investigators say more than $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB by associates of Najib between 2009 and 2014. They say the ill-gotten gains were laundered through layers of bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries to finance Hollywood films and buy hotels, a luxury yacht, art works, jewelry and other extravagances.
Some $700 million from the fund that Najib set up for Malaysia鈥檚 economic development allegedly landed in his own bank account.
One of only a few Southeast Asian leaders to be arraigned after losing office, Najib has denied any wrongdoing.
The 65-year-old was greeted by a small group of supporters as he arrived at the courthouse. They all bowed their heads in a short prayer before Najib went up to the courtroom.
Wednesday鈥檚 trial is the first of several against Najib, who has been charged with 42 counts of criminal breach of trust, graft, abuse of power and money laundering in one of Malaysia鈥檚 biggest criminal proceedings. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, also has been charged with money laundering and tax evasion linked to 1MDB. She has also pleaded not guilty and her trial has not been set.
Najib鈥檚 son, Norashman Najib, praised his father for his 鈥渢remendous strength and resolve.鈥� He tweeted late Tuesday that the trial will be an 鈥渆xcruciatingly difficult period鈥� for his father but that 鈥渨ith the right attitude, even the most trying of situations can be a blessing from Allah.鈥�
The patrician Najib, whose father and uncle were Malaysia鈥檚 second and third prime ministers respectively, has fought back with a political makeover on social media that aims to transform his image from an out-of-touch elitist to a leader for the working class.
A Malay-language catchphrase translating to 鈥淲hat鈥檚 to be ashamed about, my boss?鈥� was coined while he was campaigning in a by-election last month and has become his new rallying cry. Expensive tailored suits have been replaced by hoodies and jeans. A picture Najib posted on social media showing himself posing on a Yamaha motorcycle with his new 鈥溾�榥o-shame鈥� meme resonated with many Malay youths disenchanted by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad鈥檚 new government.
In another offbeat music video that he uploaded on social media, Najib slammed the new government as 鈥渓iars鈥� and crooned about the 鈥渟lander and revenge鈥� against him in a Malay-language rendition of the 1970鈥檚 R&B soul hit 鈥淜iss and Say Goodbye鈥� by the Manhattans.
He posts a dozen messages daily, mostly mocking the new government and its policies, and touching on the plight of the needy.
Despite his smiles and 鈥渃ool鈥� public persona, Najib could face years in prison if convicted.
Once a towering figure in politics, Najib has fallen from grace swiftly since his historic electoral loss, which led to the first change of government since Malaysia鈥檚 independence from Britain in 1957.
The new government soon after it took office reopened investigations into 1MDB that had been stifled under Najib. He and his wife were barred from leaving the country and grilled by anti-graft officials, and their properties raided. Truckloads of luggage stashed with cash, jewelry and hundreds of expensive designer bags worth a staggering 1.1 billion ringgit ($270 million) were seized from their home and other properties. /muf