Ex Malaysian PM Najib arrested

Malaysia said on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested over a probe into the state fund 1MDB.

1MDB Task Force, which was set up by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to probe the misappropriation in 1MDB, said in a statement that Najib was arrested at around 2:35 p.m. local time (0635 GMT) at his private house, over investigation linked to SRC International, a former unit of state fund 1MDB.

It also said Najib will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur court on Wednesday.

Najib, who lost power in the May general election, is facing multiple investigations into his role in 1MDB, which is accused by investigators of misappropriating huge amount of money.

Najib has received two rounds of questioning at the headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on how 42 million ringgit (10.38 million U.S. dollars) was deposited into his personal bank account.

Several premises linked to his family have been raided.

Citing sources, Malaysian state news agency Bernama said in a report that Najib is expected to face more than 10 counts of "committing criminal breach of trust linked to the SRC International."

According to the Malaysian Penal Code, "criminal breach of trust" refers to anyone "entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property either solely or jointly with any other person dishonestly misappropriates, or converts to his own use, that property."

The Penal Code stipulates that anyone found guilty of committing criminal breach of trust could face a jail term of no less than one year and not more than 10 years.

The report also said Tommy Thomas, the new attorney-general appointed by Mahathir, will personally lead the prosecution.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he was cleared of his name during his premiership, but Mahathir has said that some investigators were either removed or silenced.