Former Malaysian PM arrested, to face fresh charges
Kuala Lumpur, Sep 19 : Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested on Wednesday to face fresh corruption charges related to scandal-hit state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the Malaysia's anti-graft body said.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement that Najib will be held overnight and charged on Thursday in connection with a 2.6 billion Malaysian Ringgit ($628 million) sum deposited into his bank account from the 1MDB investment fund, the New Strait Times reported.
The MACC will assist the police to record Najib's statement in the money laundering investigation before the former Prime Minister is brought to Kuala Lumpur Sessions court on Thursday, the statement added.
On September 10, Najib released documents to support his claim that the controversial 2.6 billion Ringgit deposited into his bank account was a donation from Saudi royalty.
The former Prime Minister is facing seven criminal charges over funds belonging to SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB, totalling 42 million Ringgit: Three criminal breach of trust charges, three for money laundering and one for abuse of power.
Najib has maintained his innocence and said his trial in February 2019 was the "best chance" for him to clear his name.
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Police probing whether Bishnoi gang received help from anti-national elements outside India
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai police probing the firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence here are trying to find out if the Lawrence Bishnoi gang received help in the form of funds or weapons from anti-national elements active outside India, officials have said.
Two persons had fired four rounds outside the Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai’s Bandra area, where the actor resides, early on April 14. The police later arrested both the shooters - Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21) - from Gujarat and two arms suppliers - Sonu Kumar Chander Bishnoi (37) and Anuj Thapan (32) - from Punjab.
The crime branch of city police on Monday produced Gupta, Pal and Thapan before a court, which remanded them in police custody till May 8.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in the Sabarmati central prison in Ahmedabad, and his younger brother Anmol who is believed to be in the US or Canada, are wanted accused in the case. Anmol had claimed responsibility for the firing through a Facebook post, though its IP address was traced to Portugal, police had said earlier.
As Lawrence Bishnoi's organised crime syndicate is active at the international level, police were probing if it received any help from anti-national elements outside India, such as supply of arms or funds, the police's remand application said.
Police were also investigating the source of the weapons supplied to the alleged shooters in the present case, an official said.
Investigators believe that the Bishnoi gang wanted to create terror in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, and were probing if the gang members had tried to extort money from businesspersons, film actors and builders in the city, he said.
