Malaysia former PM Najib Razak faces first graft trial

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak has gone on trial for his role in a financial scandal that has sent shockwaves around the world.

He faces seven charges in the first of several criminal cases accusing him of pocketing $681m (£522m) from the sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

Najib pleaded not guilty to all the charges on Wednesday.

The 1MDB fund was designed to boost Malaysia's economy through strategic investments.

But instead, it allegedly funded lavish lifestyles, a Hollywood film, and a super-yacht.

It was a stunning fall from grace for a leader who just a year ago was Malaysia’s most powerful person, described by the attorney general on Wednesday as wielding “near absolute power” in office.

A group of supporters met Najib as he arrived at the court in Kuala Lumpur. They stood and prayed with him before he entered the building to chants of "Long live Najib".

Najib's lawyers made a last-minute bid to delay proceedings but the judge ruled against them.

While the former prime minister faces several criminal cases, Wednesday's trial is the first major trial in the scandal.

Proceedings were originally set to begin on 12 February but were delayed for related appeals to be heard.

Malaysia's government has also filed criminal charges against Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs, accusing the investment bank of defrauding investors by raising money for 1MDB.

The bank has denied all wrongdoing and said it would "vigorously defend the charges".

Malaysians voted Najib out of power in May 2018, as disgust grew over corruption and rising living costs and the investigations of 1Malaysia Development Berhad are seen as a test of Mahathir’s promises to root out corruption.

Najib is facing 42 charges in total, mostly linked to 1MDB.

After the adjournment, Najib left the courthouse smiling, flanked by a score of his supporters chanting “Allahu akbar”, or “God is greatest”, but he did not speak to reporters.

Lead defense lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he was confident of winning.