Former Malaysian PM Najib detained, to face fresh charges

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was detained by the anti-corruption body on Wednesday, to face fresh corruption charges related to state investment fund 1MDB.

Najib was detained related to the case of 1MDB, of which 2.6 billion ringgit of funds were allegedly deposited into his personal account, Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission said in a statement.

Najib would be brought to court to face several charges under the anti-corruption law on Thursday, the statement said.

The anti-corruption body will assist the police to record Najib's statement in the money laundering investigation before the former prime minister was brought to court, the statement added.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing on the alleged US$681 million, or 2.6 billion ringgit deposit to his personal account when he was Malaysia's prime minister.

Since the electoral defeat in May, Najib has been facing charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering, all of which linked to a 42-million-ringgit (US$10.3 million) deposit transferred into his personal bank account by SRC International, a former unit of Malaysian state fund 1MDB.

Najib has pleaded not guilty to the charges.