File of former Malaysian PM Najib, ahead of decision on whether trial will go ahead

A Malaysian court is set to decide on November 11 on whether a case has been established against the ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak. Najib faces seven charges over allegations that he received about $10 million in illegal funds from SRC International, a former unit of scandal-linked state fund 1MDB. 1MDB, founded by Najib in 2009, is the subject of corruption and money laundering investigations in at least six countries.

The U.S. Department of Justice has said about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from the fund. Malaysians voted Najib out of power in May 2018, and the investigations of 1MDB are seen as a test of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's promises to root out corruption. Najib was barred from leaving Malaysia and arrested within two months after the election. He faces a total of 42 criminal charges, most linked to 1MDB and other state entities. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and says the charges against him are politically motivated.