Former prime minister Najib Razak and former 1MDB chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy posted their bail of RM500,000 each after claiming trial to altering the auditor-general’s report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd before it was confirmed and tabled to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
They were charged separately at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.
Najib was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and faced an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less that five times the amount of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Arul Kanda, the former CEO of the sovereign wealth fund, was charged with being an accomplice to Najib to tamper the report.
Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who has been appointed senior deputy public prosecutor, is leading the prosecution.
Najib was represented by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah while Arul Kanda was represented by N Sivananthan.
It is believed that Najib’s representative posted his bail while Arul Kanda’s father-in-law posted the latter’s bail.
When asked to comment on the hearing, Arul Kanda only smiled to reporters before leaving the court, while Najib refused to make any comment.
Arul Kanda also surrendered his passport.
The case mention for both individuals is set on January 4 next year.
Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah left the court complex earliest at 11.15am after speaking to reporters in the courthouse lobby.
Arul Kanda left the compound at 11.30am while Najib left nearly 45 minutes later, reportedly, at 12.12pm.
Dressed in a black suit and accompanied by officers from the MACC, Arul Kanda had arrived at 8.05am while Najib arrived at 8.35am.
Najib arrived at 8.35am.