Malaysia: Former premier found guilty on all 7 charges

ANKARA 

A former Malaysian prime minister was found guilty on Tuesday on seven charges in a multi-million dollar corruption trial, official media reported.

High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali announced the verdict on Najib Razak, saying the prosecution had successfully proven all the charges against him, according to the Bernama news agency,

"I therefore find the accused guilty and convict the accused on all seven charges," the agency quoted the judge as saying.

Najib, 67, faced three charges of criminal breach of trust, one charge of abuse of power, and three charges of money laundering.

His defense team argued that he had believed the funds in his accounts to have been donated by the Saudi royal family and did not have any knowledge of illicit transactions.

"There were no details about the donations or whether it would come with conditions. "Is it foreign aid, a grant or a loan? The accused could have picked up his mobile and communicated especially with his foreign affairs minister or the Saudi ambassador," local daily the Star quoted Justice Nazlan as saying.

The charges carry as much as 15 to 20 year in prison and fine for abuse of power and money laundering.

However, Najib's legal team said they would appeal against the verdict. 

Last February, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which state that 42 million Malaysian ringgits ($14 million) of state funds were stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) -- a strategic development company -- and transferred to Najib and his close circle.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid