KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak was hit with new charges Wednesday linked to a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal that contributed to his shock election defeat in May.
Appearing at a court in Kuala Lumpur, Najib was charged with three counts of money-laundering over claims he pocketed 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) from a former unit of scandal-hit sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
These are in addition to the charges he faced last month after he was first arrested — three for criminal breach of trust and a separate count that he abused his position to take the money.
The 65-year-old, who is free on bail, has denied all the charges.
Malaysia’s new government is probing allegations that billions of dollars were looted from 1MDB, which was set up and overseen by Najib, in an audacious fraud that spanned the globe.
Allegations of massive corruption were a major factor behind the electoral earthquake in May that toppled Najib’s long-ruling coalition and ushered in a reformist alliance headed by his 93-year-old former mentor Mahathir Mohamad.
In a packed courtroom, the three new charges were read out to Najib. Asked if he understood them, Najib — dressed in a dark blue suit and looking tired — said he did.
His case was transferred to another court, where he entered not guilty pleas, meaning he will stand trial. Trial dates will be fixed on Friday, the judge said.
As he left court, a handful of supporters shouted “long live Najib” while his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the toppled leader believed the case was driven by politics.
“I am confident of a fair trial for my client, but my client thinks this is a political prosecution,” he told reporters.
Najib is facing a long time behind bars if found guilty — the money-laundering charges carry maximum jail terms of 15 years each, while the other four charges carry sentences of 20 years each.
The money-laundering charges allege 42 million ringgit stemming from illegal activities was transferred to Najib’s bank accounts between December 2014 and February 2015.
All the charges relate to fund transfers from SRC International, an energy company that was originally a subsidiary of 1MDB.
The sums involved are just a fraction of the $681 million that was mysteriously transferred to Najib’s personal bank accounts several years ago, sparking uproar in Malaysia.
The then attorney general — who had ties to Najib’s party — cleared the leader of wrongdoing, and said that the money had been a donation from the Saudi royal family.
Najib, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his allies are accused of plundering billions of dollars from 1MDB to buy everything from US real estate to artworks.
The US Department of Justice, which is seeking to recover items allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB cash in America, estimates that $4.5 billion in total was looted from the fund.
Following Najib’s election loss, police seized a vast trove of items — including expensive handbags and jewelry — from properties linked to him with an estimated value of up to $273 million.
Investigations into 1MDB have been moving swiftly. On Tuesday, a luxury yacht allegedly paid for with about $250 million stolen from 1MDB arrived outside Kuala Lumpur after being handed over by Indonesian authorities, who impounded it following a DoJ request.
The 300-foot (90-meter) Equanimity, kitted out with a pool and helicopter landing pad, was allegedly bought by playboy financier Jho Low, a friend of Najib’s family who was said to exert great influence over 1MDB.
Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor led a life of luxury, allegedly funded by stolen public money, that came to symbolize the rot in an elite that had ruled the country uninterrupted since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957.
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Malaysian ex-PM Najib charged with money-laundering
Malaysian ex-PM Najib charged with money-laundering
- Malaysia’s former PM Najib Razak hit with new charges linked to a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal
- Malaysia’s new government is probing allegations that billions of dollars were looted from 1MDB
Date announced for Modon Excellence Award winners reveal
- The initiative reflects Modon’s ambitions of cultivating a world-class industrial environment
RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, known as Modon, has announced the winners of the Modon Excellence Award will be revealed on Dec. 22.
The initiative, under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, reflects Modon’s ambitions of cultivating a world-class industrial environment, embracing best practices in digital transformation, research and innovation, and promoting business sustainability.
It also aims to empower women in the workplace and enhance the leadership role of factories by adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and developing innovative products.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Human Capacity Development Faris Al-Saqabi said the Modon Excellence Award was designed to inspire positive competition among factories and individuals in the industrial sector.
He added innovation and collaboration were pivotal in driving societal progress and cultivating a sustainable, thriving industrial environment. The award highlights groundbreaking initiatives that reflect creativity and dedication while promoting innovation and raising industrial standards.
Mamdooh Al-Drees, Modon’s deputy CEO, said the award was launched to promote healthy competition within the industrial sector and encourage excellence among participants. He added it also sought to foster an environment that nurtured creativity and innovation, ultimately improving operational efficiency and boosting production.
Ultimately, it seeks to enhance the ecosystem of industrial cities and technology zones by promoting sustainable environmental practices in production, advancing adoption of cutting-edge industrial technologies, and encouraging improvements in product and service quality. It also aims to drive the integration of automation across diverse operations and processes.
The first edition of the award, launched under the theme “Makers of Excellence,” features three main categories: Individuals, with subcategories for Leadership Excellence and Promising Woman; Small Enterprises; and Medium and Large Industrial Enterprises.
These recognize excellence in several key areas including environmental sustainability, innovation and leadership in industry, digital transformation, social responsibility, and human capacity development.
Sri Lanka to build on, maintain relations with Saudi Arabia: envoy
- Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations
- Commemoration of anniversary will serve as a catalyst to further consolidate bilateral relations
- Two countries to issue a postage stamp, unveil a logo besides other cultural activities
RIYADH: Sri Lankan Ambassador in Riyadh Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad expressed his desire to elevate bilateral relations to new heights as Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Ajwad said: “Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.”
He added: “Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia have a very long background of ties. According to the history books, it started in the seventh century … when Sri Lankan King Aggrabodhi III dispatched a delegation on a fact-finding mission to Saudi Arabia, on the request of the Arab people who were living in Sri Lanka at that time. The king sent an envoy to Madinah to learn about Islam from Prophet Muhammad.”
This ancient trade and people-to-people relationship between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka flourished over time. The two established formal diplomatic relations in 1974. The first Saudi ambassador to Sri Lanka was appointed in August 1977. The Sri Lanka mission was established in Jeddah in 1983. The Embassy of Sri Lanka was established in Jeddah with M.R.M Thassim as the first accredited ambassador, and shifted to Riyadh in 1985.
“We are celebrating this historic moment. It’s a milestone in our bilateral relations. We have decided on a logo to be unveiled soon to mark this occasion, both countries have agreed on that. We will soon launch it both in Saudi Arabia as well as Colombo. The logo will demonstrate the close bilateral relations,” said the ambassador.
“We will issue a postal stamp to mark the occasion. Both countries are now working on that to release a stamp to demonstrate the depth of relations,” Ajwad told Arab News.
“We also took some initiatives to mark the golden jubilee occasion such as the green initiative with the tree planting campaign in Riyadh in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Riyadh municipality — we have already planted trees in four parks with our community. It is aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative that aims to plant 10 billion trees,” he said.
“(We) also initiated planting campaign in the Sri Lankan Schools in Riyadh and Jeddah to mark the 50th anniversary,” he added.
“We initiated an Ambassadors Cup cricket tournament among our community to mark this occasion. We already had it in Jeddah, and now we have a final on Dec. 27 in Riyadh,” he said.
“We have also launched events to boost cultural cooperation between the two countries.”
Ajwad noted that Saudi Arabia under the visionary leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has embarked on an ambitious Vision 2030 program.
“We witness Saudi Arabia’s fastest developments in all spheres,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka was one of the first countries which pledged support for Saudi Arabia hosting Expo 2030. He also said Sri Lanka is proud of the Kingdom winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
“I believe the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations will serve as a catalyst to further consolidate our bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest in the years ahead,” said Ajwad.
Following the commemorative year, “we are planning to initiate the first political consultation meeting between the foreign ministries of both countries, finalizing the roadmap for economic cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia and the relevant ministry in Sri Lanka, and activating the MoU on foreign investment signed this year between Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia,” he added.
On diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, the ambassador said: “We are very closely working on all aspects.”
He added that the Saudi-Sri Lanka Joint Committee was established under the General Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries in 2003.
The committee held its first session in 2023 in Riyadh. The Saudi delegation was led by Dr. Abdullah Nasser Abu Thnain, deputy minister of human resources and social development, while the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Tharaka Balasuriya, former minister of state for foreign affairs.
“We have identified around 63 items for economic cooperation under the Joint Committee. We have also set up an economic roadmap under the framework of the Joint Committee,” said the ambassador.
“It’s a very promising roadmap. So we will build on the relations that we have already maintained, to elevate it to the new heights,” said Ajwad.
Saudi Arabia’s assistance to Sri Lanka is broad and diverse. The Kingdom has provided assistance to the tune of $455 million to implement over 15 development projects in education, irrigation, agriculture and road networks, including the establishment of Medical Faculty at the University of Sabaragamuwa, the development of the Wayamba University township and the Kurinchakerni Bridge project.
The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has also implemented 18 projects including shelter, food security, and humanitarian operations at a cost of more than $15 million.
Formation of a Parliamentary Friendship Committee between the two countries has further strengthened bilateral ties, said the envoy.
“We are also focused on the private sector interactions between the two countries,” he added.
Tourism is a very promising area for Sri Lanka. “We saw an increased number of Saudi tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Saudis are placed third in number of tourists visitng Sri Lanka,” said Ajwad, adding: “We are working closely on promoting tourism. It’s a promising area. We can work in the hospitality sector as well. There is a big interest.”
Saudi crown prince checks on health of Morocco’s king during phone call
- The king had successful surgery earlier in December
RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call on Friday to King Mohammed VI of Morocco to check on the king's health and wish him continued good health and wellbeing, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
King Mohammed thanked the crown prince for the call and kind wishes, SPA added.
The king had successful surgery earlier in December on his left shoulder after suffering a fall while working out, state media said.
Sri Lankans demand screenings of Israeli visitors to keep out war criminals
- Israeli soldier reportedly fled Sri Lanka after Belgian-based NGO called for his arrest
- Sri Lankan protesters warn against Israeli soldiers vacationing in the country
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan civil society groups protested on Friday to demand special screenings of Israelis arriving in the country after a soldier accused of war crimes in Gaza was spotted in Colombo.
A video of the soldier boasting about the killing of a Palestinian civilian was posted by the Hind Rajab Foundation on Wednesday with an appeal to Sri Lankan authorities to arrest him, as the organization identified the man as staying in the country’s capital.
The Belgian-based NGO, which pursues legal action against Israeli military personnel involved in the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza over the past 14 months, has named the man as Gal Ferenbook, a member of an Israeli military infantry brigade.
The video, which the foundation said was posted by Ferenbook on his Instagram account on Aug. 9, showed him inside an armored vehicle in Gaza, looking at the remains of a dead person.
A second individual’s voice, speaking in Hebrew, mocked the situation and referred to Ferenbook as “our terminator,” while the soldier boasted about his involvement in the killing.
While Israeli TV Channel 12 reported on Thursday night that Ferenbook had fled Sri Lanka following the arrest request, his presence in the country has raised concerns about the arrival of other Israeli nationals.
“We are protesting against Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people and request that the Sri Lankan government stop Israeli soldiers from entering Sri Lanka to spend their holidays here,” said Swasthika Arulingam, human rights lawyer and leader of the People’s Struggle Movement, which co-organized Friday’s protest.
“Sri Lanka is a member of the UN, and it has an obligation to support the Palestinians and oppose Israeli atrocities at all costs.”
Arulingam told Arab News that there were fears over the impact of the presence of Israelis in the country on local communities.
“War criminals, particularly Israeli war criminals, when they come to Sri Lanka to have fun, they probably will be creating chaos in this country as well,” she said.
The fear was echoed by the National Unity Alliance, which called on the Sri Lankan government on Friday to introduce special immigration checks.
In a petition to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the party referred to the presence of Ferenbook in Colombo as raising “significant concerns for the security and well-being of Sri Lankan nationals.”
It also warned that allowing individuals accused of war crimes to to enter or remain within Sri Lankan borders could have “grave implications” on the country’s image and would undermine its commitment to justice and human rights.
“The government must monitor the Israelis who are coming ... the government must have a list of these war criminals who are coming into the country. They must be stopped at the airport itself, at the entrance ... We must take them into custody and then deport them immediately without allowing them to go into the country,” Azath Salley, NUA leader and former governor of the Western Province, told Arab News.
“We’ll monitor it, and we’ll ensure that we'll bring everybody together to protest against these criminals coming into the country.”
Sister act: Saudi sibling filmmakers Raneem and Dana Almohandes talk musicals, inspiration and telepathy
JEDDAH: A trip to Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, a chance encounter with a persistent mosquito on the streets of New York and an enduring love for musicals inspired Saudi filmmaking sisters Dana and Raneem Almohandes to create their animated short film “A Mosquito,” which screened at the recently concluded Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.
“We were walking in New York, having a good time, and there was this mosquito who kept coming back to me,” explained older sister Raneem. “This is how it all started, with one question: ‘What does this mosquito want?’ We thought, ‘She wants to talk to us, but we’re not giving her the chance.’ So, that’s where the story was born.”
Set in 1969, “A Mosquito” follows Zozo — a tiny mosquito with big dreams. While her peers are content with ordinary life in the majestic landscapes of AlUla, Zozo dares to dream of becoming a famous singer — heading to Egypt to sing before the legendary Umm Kulthum.
“A Mosquito” began life as a two-minute short — part of Raneem’s university project. It turned into its fully realized version after they took their idea to the AlUla Creates program, a local initiative that provides funding, mentorship and networking opportunities for Saudi filmmakers and fashion designers.
“When AlUla invited us to apply, we had this idea already, and we wanted to expand on it, because, you know, university projects are victims of time and resources. We developed the story with the AlUla Creates team,” said Raneem.
“We went to AlUla earlier, and we captured the aesthetics from there. The frames that you see in the film are identical to the pictures we took during our trip,” added Dana.
Raneem graduated from New York University in musical theater writing (Dana, the younger of the two, is studying filmmaking at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh). “We grew up watching musicals, but we felt like we don’t have any that are in the Saudi dialect, so we wanted to create (them),” said Raneem. “That’s why I studied musical theater writing.
“We’ve always loved expressing ourselves through art. For example, Dana will do a dance whenever she wants to express how she feels about someone. Like, for my birthday, she would do a choreographed dance. I used to do small videos for our family — sometimes they’re music videos, sometimes short films … this is how we started. And then I started an Instagram page for DIY videos, and we worked together on it. It was one of the first (Instagram accounts) to reach 1 million followers in the Middle East,” said Raneem. “Dana was, like, 10 years old back then.”
Before they had received any formal training, the duo were chosen as For Change Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia. The screenplay for their first musical feature (“Dandana”) was shortlisted in the second round of Sundance’s Screenwriters Lab 2020. Their first short, “A Human,” was funded by Google and premiered in Riyadh.
The sisters reiterate that their filmmaking career is closely tied to the history of cinema in the Kingdom.
“We put ‘A Human’ up on YouTube in parallel with Saudi Arabia opening its cinemas again,” Raneem said. It went on to become one of the first 100 films to be shown in cinemas after they reopened in the country and, according to Raneem, the very first short film.
In 2022, the pair wrote and directed the musical short “A Swing,” which was selected for the official competition at the Saudi Film Festival and was screened as part of the Kingdom’s participation at Cannes in 2022.
Despite the eight-year age gap between the two sisters, the duo say they have a seamless working relationship.
“We sometimes fight, as all sisters do, but we have telepathy most of the time,” said Raneem. “We are in sync in terms of ideas. Filmmaking is all about communication.”
Working as two young women in the Saudi film industry is, Dana said, “magical.” Raneem agreed.
“It’s overwhelmingly beautiful, because the support is magnificent,” she said. “Each and every project and idea that we’ve had, we knew for a fact that if we approached the right decision maker, it would happen.”
