IN TOO DEEP

Former Malaysian Leader Arrested Over Missing Billions of Dollars

Huge sum disappeared from state fund.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested as part of an investigation into how billions of dollars went missing from a state fund he founded almost a decade ago. Razak served as prime minister from 2008 until his shock election loss in May of this year. Since his defeat, Najib has been barred from leaving the country, has been grilled by the anti-graft agency, and had his personal and family houses searched as part of the probe. The former PM has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with the state fund known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Malaysia’s new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has previously said embezzlement and bribery with government money were among the charges that prosecutors were looking to bring against Najib, adding they had “an almost perfect case” against him. Najib is expected to be charged in court Wednesday.