Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested by anti-corruption investigators on Tuesday afternoon in a development likely to lead to the former leader's charging with corruption offences.
A source with knowledge of the inquiry into Najib, 65, said that investigators had arranged for the former PM to hand himself into the anti-corruption agency on Tuesday.
His lawyers have firmed the report to local Malaysian media.
$275m worth of cash, jewellery, handbags seized in Razak probe
The Malaysian Insight portal said in a Twitter post just past 4.14pm local time that the former prime minister had been seen leaving his private residence in an unmarked police car.
Najib’s lawyers said he could be charged on Wednedsay.
Scandal
Since Najib’s defeat in the May 9 general election, the newly-formed government headed by his one-time mentor Mahathir Mohammad has been investigating his involvement in the multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at the state fund 1MDB.
Mahathir and other senior leaders in the new government believe there is incontrovertible evidence that Najib plundered the fund.
Truckloads of luxury bags, cash and jewellery seized
US prosecutors say some US$700 million from the fund had flowed to the ex-premier’s account.
Malaysian police last week revealed they had seized US$273 million worth of jewellery, purses and other valuables from the properties of Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor.
