Najib Razak, Malaysia’s former prime minister, has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to a multi-billion dollar financial scandal after he was arrested from his luxury home in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday. Mr Najib, 64, was formally charged in court on Wednesday morning on three counts of criminal breach of trust and a separate charge that he abused his position to pocket $10.6 million (£8m) from SRC International, a unit of the 1Malaysia Development Fund at the heart of international fraud allegations. Accusations of massive corruption at the 1MDB fund, which was created by Mr Najib, were a major factor behind the electoral earthquake in May that toppled his long-ruling coalition and ushered in a reformist alliance headed by his former mentor Mahathir Mohamad, 92. Dr Mahathir’s administration was quick to reinstate an investigation into the alleged looting of the state fund. US investigators have claimed that Mr Najib’s … [Read more...] about Malaysia’s ex-premier Najib Razak pleads not guilty to charges over corruption scandal
Pleaded not guilty
Najib Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption Charges in 1MDB Case
Malaysia’s former leader Najib Razak has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption and criminal breach of trust in connection with a multibillion-dollar scandal surrounding state fund 1MDB.Appearing in the High Court on Wednesday, Najib was granted bail of 1 million ringgit ($247,000) and ordered to surrender his passports. He faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, and one charge under the anti-corruption act, and could be jailed for up to 20 years and fined. The ex-prime minister is seeking a trial for all charges.While the breach of trust charges carry punishments that include whipping -- usually done with strokes of a rattan cane -- Najib may be exempted for being more than 50 years old.Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, whose coalition ousted Najib in May, has sought to recoup $4.5 billion potentially siphoned from 1MDB. A parliamentary committee in 2016 identified at least $4.2 billion in irregular transactions by the fund, with the U.S. Department of Justice saying … [Read more...] about Najib Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption Charges in 1MDB Case
Defendant named, pleads not guilty to murder of Upper Hutt baby
William Martin Wakefield has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a five-month-old baby in Upper Hutt. The 31-year-old is accused of murdering his partner's son Lincoln on June 11. Wakefield is alleged to have been caring for Lincoln while the baby's mother was at work. Man charged with murder after Upper Hutt baby's death Justice David Collins ended name suppression for Wakefield in the High Court in Wellington on Wednesday. Lincoln died in Wellington Hospital from serious head injuries after undergoing surgery. Wakefield has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between May 7 and June 4. Wakefield has been remanded in custody after an application for bail was denied. He will go on trial in June next year. Newshub. … [Read more...] about Defendant named, pleads not guilty to murder of Upper Hutt baby
Man pleads not guilty to murder of 2-year-old
A man charged with the murder of 2-year-old girl Arnica Savage has this morning pleaded not guilty. The man (32) appeared in the High Court at Rotorua this morning where he entered a not guilty plea to murdering the child at Te Mahoe in the Eastern Bay of Plenty on Sunday night. The man, who was wearing a white prison boiler suit and was clutching a blue book, entered the plea through his lawyer, Gene Tomlinson. About 20 people were in the public gallery. Justice Graham Lang remanded the man in custody to reappear for a case review hearing on September 5 when he will appear by audio visual link. Justice Lang has set down the trial to start on March 18 next year. Justice Lang said at the request of the family the accused's name and his relationship to the girl would remain suppressed until 5pm on July 11, which was after the girl's tangi. Arnica's body was found in the Rangitaiki River on Sunday night about 11pm after police were called to the area about 6pm. … [Read more...] about Man pleads not guilty to murder of 2-year-old
Harvey Weinstein to plead not guilty to new charges
Harvey Weinstein to plead not guilty to new charges BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer has said the film producer will enter a plea of not guilty after he was charged with sex crimes against a third woman in New York. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/harvey-weinstein-to-plead-not-guilty-to-new-charges-37073611.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article37073609.ece/01612/AUTOCROP/h342/bpanews_24556080-e5ba-4e43-b57e-b015f9edcce1_1 Email Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer has said the film producer will enter a plea of not guilty after he was charged with sex crimes against a third woman in New York. The disgraced producer, 66, has already been charged with assaults on two other women in 2013 and 2004. The Manhattan District Attorney announced Weinstein has now been charged with offences alleged to have taken place in 2006. A grand jury has charged the mogul with an additional count of a criminal sex act in the first degree for a … [Read more...] about Harvey Weinstein to plead not guilty to new charges