PUTRAJAYA, Oct 29 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be convicted for abusing his positions in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial to obtain financial benefits for himself, the prosecution said today.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib argued that Najib benefited the most from the 1MDB scheme, as he received both money in his personal bank accounts and power.
In the 1MDB trial, Najib has insisted that the US$681 million (RM2.081 billion) which entered his account was Saudi donations, but the prosecution has said the money belongs to 1MDB.
During this trial, Najib’s lawyers also claimed that he did not benefit financially, by arguing that he did not use the money to buy luxury products and that he had used it for political and social welfare purposes.
But Akram today said: “On the contrary, it is our respectful submission that the accused is the biggest beneficiary to this whole story – He gets to retain power and maintain his position not only in the country but also in the political party he was heading. He received none other than — power!”
Akram did not elaborate on how Najib retained power through the 1MDB scheme.
Earlier today, Najib’s lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had said the US$681 million was a Saudi donation to help his client in the 13th general elections in 2013, as the late Saudi ruler King Abdullah supported Najib’s continued leadership in Malaysia.
Shafee had said King Abdullah had in January 2010 allegedly promised donations to Najib, and justified the US$681 million sent to Najib in March 2013 — three years after the alleged verbal promise — as not being “late at all”.
“The election finally was held May 5, 2013, so this money came quite conveniently to assist Datuk Seri Najib for the election. And the preparation for it, you can’t do within a week. You have to do it a year or two in advance, so it wasn’t late at all,” Shafee had argued.
The prosecution today however said Najib’s claim that he believed he was receiving donations was not a credible story, and said he had failed to prove this with authentic or genuine documents.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib is seen at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex July 7, 2025. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
Among other things, Akram today also argued that the prosecution had successfully proven all four charges of abuse of position against Najib in the 1MDB trial beyond reasonable doubt.
Akram listed how the prosecution had proved this, including Najib’s undisputed position then as prime minister, finance minister, 1MDB board of advisers’ chairman, trustee and ultimate decision-maker of 1MDB and its sole shareholder MOF Inc.
Akram said the prosecution had proven that Najib had used his position to influence decisions and actions within 1MDB, and that these had resulted in money flowing into his personal accounts.
Akram said the evidence shows Najib had a direct personal interest in 1MDB decisions: “He benefited personally through funds traced to his accounts.”
Akram also highlighted other factors, such as how the timing of money flowing into Najib’s account coincided with 1MDB transactions; and the lack of any genuine corroboration for his claim of receiving the money as Arab donations.
He also highlighted that Najib did not carry out due diligence or any inquiry “when receiving enormous sums of money into his personal account personally”, when a prime minister or finance minister would have been expected to do so.
He said Najib was also fully aware of communications involving Low Taek Jho and had benefited from such communications.
Among other things, Akram argued that the prosecution witnesses who testified against Najib are credible witnesses.
Najib’s 1MDB trial before trial judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah resumes tomorrow.
In this trial, Najib is also facing 21 money laundering charges, namely nine charges for receiving US$681 million (RM2.081 billion) — which the prosecution says belongs to 1MDB and are not Saudi donations — in his bank account; five charges for his sending out of US$620 million (RM2.034 billion) — which Najib claims he was returning; five charges for issuing cheques totalling RM22.649 million; and two charges for transferring money to his other bank accounts.
