Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested in a corruption probe. File. Olivia Harris / Reuters
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested in a corruption probe. File. Olivia Harris / Reuters
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested in a corruption probe. File. Olivia Harris / Reuters
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested in a corruption probe. File. Olivia Harris / Reuters

Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak arrested by anti-graft officials over 1MDB scandal


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Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested by anti-corruption investigators in connection with an inquiry into how billions of dollars went missing from the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state investment fund he founded almost a decade ago.

Police raided properties linked to Mr Razak this week, seizing almost $273 million in high-value goods, including jewellery, watches and handbags.

The former premier was detained at his home and taken to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's headquarters, according to agency sources. He is expected to be charged on Wednesday following a night in custody.

Mr Najib was interrogated in May by Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission following his defeat in May 9 general elections. The 1MDB scandal contributed to Mr Razak's defeat in the elections.

The new government reopened the investigations after they were stifled while Mr Razak was in office. The former prime minister was barred from leaving the country shortly after the election.

Malaysia's anti-corruption agency is also questioning the former premier's stepson Riza Aziz, who is a Hollywood film producer.

US investigators allege Mr Aziz's company used money stolen from 1MDB to finance Hollywood films including Martin Scorsese's film The Wolf of Wall Street.

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Read more:

Treasure trove worth $273 million seized from ex-Malaysia PM

Former Malaysian premier interrogated over corruption scandal

Malaysian police seize designer bags, jewellery and cash in raids on ex-PM

While you're here
How to report a beggar

Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)

Dubai – Call 800243

Sharjah – Call 065632222

Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372

Ajman – Call 067401616

Umm Al Quwain – Call 999

Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20Kitchen
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Specs

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Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

What is a Ponzi scheme?

A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.

'Young girls thinking of big ideas'

Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.

“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”

In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.

“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”

Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.

“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”

rpennington@thenational.ae

Brief scores:

Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)

England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)

Result: Scotland won by six runs

Ipaf in numbers

Established: 2008

Prize money:  $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.

Winning novels: 13

Shortlisted novels: 66

Longlisted novels: 111

Total number of novels submitted: 1,780

Novels translated internationally: 66

ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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MATCH INFO

Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')

Germany 1
Ozil (11')

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia on October 10

Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets