KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has claimed trial to using his then position as prime minister to tamper with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) final audit report.
Najib, 65, was calm when the charge was read to him before Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi.
Between Feb 22 and 26, 2016, Najib was alleged to have used his position as the then Prime Minister to order the amendment to the report before it was tabled at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The offence was alleged to have been committed at Kompleks Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Putrajaya.
If convicted under Section 24 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, Najib would face a maximum 20-year jail term, and fine not less than five times the graft involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Azura allowed RM500,000 bail in one surety and ordered it to be posted by today.
She fixed Jan 4 next year for mention after being informed by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram that the prosecution would seek for a related case to be transferred before her.
Najib was represented by counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Najib, who was also former Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, was arrested on Monday to finalise the investigation by MACC, before he was released on bail on the same day.
On Nov 25, Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad had said that Najib had instructed for amendments to be made to the 1MDB final audit report, with the exclusion of several paragraphs in the report, which include the presence of fugitive entrepreneur Low Taek Jho or Jho Low in a 1MDB board meeting.
