KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s anti-graft agency said former Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested on Wednesday and will face further charges of abuse of power over the multimillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund. The agency said in a statement that Najib was detained at its office over the transfer of 2.6 billion ringgit ($627.8 million) into his bank account. It said Najib will be taken to court on Thursday to face several charges under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act. Najib was earlier charged with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering over the scandal at the 1MDB state fund, just months after his shocking electoral defeat. Police also seized jewelry and hundreds of handbags and other valuables estimated at more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($273 million) from properties linked to Najib.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 19, 2018 10:52 UTC