Najib Razak, &nbsp;former prime minister of Malaysia, requested on Tuesday that the chief justice abstain from sitting over a panel hearing his final appeal to overturn his conviction for corruption and 12-year prison term in a case related to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysias-top-court-denies-ex-pm-najibs-request-for-a-new-trial-and-an-extension-of-the-appeal-deadline-507486">1MDB financial scandal</a>.

The action was taken after Malaysian prosecutors finished their arguments last week, and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-seeks-special-master-to-examine-mar-a-lago-documents-509307">Federal Court</a> could perhaps announce its ruling on Tuesday or set a new date for it. Due to a lack of preparation time, Najib's attorneys declined to deliver their arguments.

Najib's attorney requested on Monday that the Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat be removed from the five-member panel hearing his appeal due to "a serious danger of bias" brought on by her husband's social media remarks from 2018.

"Being the husband of the chairperson that is adjudicating my appeal it is likely that he would have influenced the thinking of the mind of the chairperson as to my alleged culpability," according to the application seen by Reuters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-trade-minister-goyal-to-take-part-in-ipef-ministerial-in-us-508950">Indian trade minister Goyal to take part in IPEF Ministerial in US</a>

In order to prepare for the application's hearing, the court took a break.

Critics saw the application as Najib's latest attempt to delay the issuance of the top court's final decision.

Just three weeks before to the start of the final appeals process last week, he switched legal counsel. Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, the attorney representing the client, attempted to resign last week but the court refused to let him go.

Najib, 69, was convicted in July 2020 of criminally breaching trust, abusing his position of authority, and money laundering for obtaining $10 million from SRC International, a former division of the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, without authorization (1MDB).

Najib, who maintained his innocence, was given a 12-year prison term and fined 210 million ringgit ($46.84 million).

In a massive scandal that has authorities and financial institutions from all over the world implicated, prosecutors claim that almost $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, which Najib co-founded in 2009 while serving as premier.

Najib has continuously disputed the accusations despite the fact that he is facing many trials.

(With inputs from agencies)

Also WATCH |&nbsp;Inside Malaysia's Multibillion-dollar megaproject that left a ghost town | WION Originals

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/inside-malaysias-multibillion-dollar-megaproject-that-left-a-ghost-town-wion-originals-508508/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Najib Razak, former prime minister of Malaysia, requested on Tuesday that the chief justice abstain from sitting over a panel hearing his final appeal to overturn his conviction for corruption and 12-year prison term in a case related to the 1MDB financial scandal.

Najib Razak, former prime minister of Malaysia, requested on Tuesday that the chief justice abstain from sitting over a panel hearing his final appeal to overturn his conviction for corruption and 12-year prison term in a case related to the 1MDB financial scandal. The action was taken after Malaysian prosecutors finished their arguments last week, and the Federal Court could perhaps announce its ruling on Tuesday or set a new date for it. Due to a lack of preparation time, Najib's attorneys declined to deliver their arguments. Najib's attorney requested on Monday that the Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat be removed from the five-member panel hearing his appeal due to "a serious danger of bias" brought on by her husband's social media remarks from 2018. "Being the husband of the chairperson that is adjudicating my appeal it is likely that he would have influenced the thinking of the mind of the chairperson as to my alleged culpability," according to the application seen by Reuters. Also read | Indian trade minister Goyal to take part in IPEF Ministerial in US In order to prepare for the application's hearing, the court took a break. Critics saw the application as Najib's latest attempt to delay the issuance of the top court's final decision. Just three weeks before to the start of the final appeals process last week, he switched legal counsel. Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, the attorney representing the client, attempted to resign last week but the court refused to let him go. Najib, 69, was convicted in July 2020 of criminally breaching trust, abusing his position of authority, and money laundering for obtaining $10 million from SRC International, a former division of the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, without authorization (1MDB). Najib, who maintained his innocence, was given a 12-year prison term and fined 210 million ringgit ($46.84 million). In a massive scandal that has authorities and financial institutions from all over the world implicated, prosecutors claim that almost $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, which Najib co-founded in 2009 while serving as premier. Najib has continuously disputed the accusations despite the fact that he is facing many trials. (With inputs from agencies) Also WATCH | Inside Malaysia's Multibillion-dollar megaproject that left a ghost town | WION Originals

Malaysia's ex-PM Najib asks chief justice to step out from appeal panel

A Malaysian court will deliver its verdict in a case against former prime minister Najib Razak on July 28, the first of several corruption trials he faces over a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Najib, who was voted out of power in 2018, is facing dozens of criminal charges over allegations that about $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, a state fund he co-founded in 2009.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-singapore-defer-high-speed-rail-project-until-year-end-302147">Also read:&nbsp;Malaysia, Singapore defer high-speed rail project until year-end</a>

In the first case against him, Najib has plead not guilty to seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and abuse of power over accusations that he had illegally received transfers of 42 million ringgit ($9.84 million) from former 1MDB unit SRC international.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali on Friday set July 28 to issue his verdict, as prosecutors and defence lawyers delivered their closing arguments after a 14-month long trial.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/business-ties-between-india-and-malaysia-improve-as-political-relationship-makes-headway-301978">Also read:&nbsp;Business ties between India and Malaysia improve as political relationship makes headway</a>

If convicted, Najib, 66, faces hefty fines and jail terms of up to 15 to 20 years on each charge.

Defence lawyers say Najib was misled by Malaysian financier Jho Low and other 1MDB officials into believing that the SRC funds banked into his accounts in 2014 were donated by the Saudi royal family, rather than misappropriated from 1MDB as prosecutors have alleged.

Low faces charges in Malaysia and the United States over his alleged central role in the case. He has denied wrongdoing and his whereabouts are unknown.

A Malaysian court will deliver its verdict in a case against former prime minister Najib Razak on July 28, the first of several corruption trials he faces over a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

A Malaysian court will deliver its verdict in a case against former prime minister Najib Razak on July 28, the first of several corruption trials he faces over a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Najib, who was voted out of power in 2018, is facing dozens of criminal charges over allegations that about $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, a state fund he co-founded in 2009. Also read: Malaysia, Singapore defer high-speed rail project until year-end In the first case against him, Najib has plead not guilty to seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and abuse of power over accusations that he had illegally received transfers of 42 million ringgit ($9.84 million) from former 1MDB unit SRC international. Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali on Friday set July 28 to issue his verdict, as prosecutors and defence lawyers delivered their closing arguments after a 14-month long trial. Also read: Business ties between India and Malaysia improve as political relationship makes headway If convicted, Najib, 66, faces hefty fines and jail terms of up to 15 to 20 years on each charge. Defence lawyers say Najib was misled by Malaysian financier Jho Low and other 1MDB officials into believing that the SRC funds banked into his accounts in 2014 were donated by the Saudi royal family, rather than misappropriated from 1MDB as prosecutors have alleged. Low faces charges in Malaysia and the United States over his alleged central role in the case. He has denied wrongdoing and his whereabouts are unknown.

Malaysian ex-PM Najib faces July verdict in first 1MDB-linked trial

Disgraced former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been out in recent weeks campaigning as if for an election, trying to shed the image of a wealthy, elite politician and elicit public sympathy before his corruption trial begins on Tuesday.

Najib has pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering, in what is set to be the first of many trials over suspected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-probes-claim-china-offered-to-bail-out-1mdb-188963">multibillion-dollar fraud at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad</a> (1MDB).

The trial starts nine months after Malaysians voted Najib out of office in a general election dominated by public disgust over allegations some $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, and about a quarter of it went into his personal bank accounts.

Police found nearly $300 million worth of goods and cash at properties linked to Najib soon after the May 2018 election.

But as the trial date nears, Najib - who has maintained his innocence - has sought a radical change of image, painting himself as a victim of a vindictive government led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The 65-year-old son of Malaysia’s second prime minister is also trying to build an image as a folksy voice of working people, especially members of the ethnic Malay majority.

Najib, in a viral video last month, crooned a Malay-language version of the 1970s hit 'Kiss and Say Goodbye', surrounded by a chorus of sombre young singers, criticising Mahathir's coalition for failing to live up to election promises.

"On May 9, 2018, I was ousted. All this time, I have been fighting with my life for the people I love. But what can I do?" an earnest Najib says of his "saddest day" in the introduction to the song.

Najib has also been hitting out online. His jibes against ruling party politicians on Facebook and Twitter have some social media users referring to him as "King of Trolls".

A relaxed, casually dressed Najib also paid a visit this month to Langkawi, Mahathir's island constituency, where he pottered around town, visiting markets, eating at hawker stalls and rubbing elbows and posing for selfies with passersby.

Mahathir was not impressed. He told a news conference last week Najib seemed to be getting popular on social media because "he provides a lot of stories".

Harvinderjit Singh, one of Najib's lawyers, declined to comment on the former premier's public appearances but said the 1MDB trials were unlikely to be affected by the hoopla.

"The case is going to be determined by what happens in court, not out of it," he said.

1MDB trial

While Najib has been trying to build public support, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has been building a formidable team to prosecute Najib, his wife and a host of other former top officials charged for corruption. All of them have pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution has been recruiting top-notch criminal attorneys including former federal court judge Gopal Sri Ram and Sulaiman Abdullah, a lawyer with a background in cases of white-collar crime.

The AGC has also recalled several prosecutors from state offices to join the team, two lawyers with knowledge of the matter said.

The AGC did not respond to a request for comment.

Najib has a defence team of eight lawyers, led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who once represented the government in a sodomy case against former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Najib could face years in prison. He faces 39 criminal charges over losses at 1MDB and other state entities.

Seven of those charges will be the subject of Tuesday's trial, relating to transfers totalling 42 million ringgit ($10.30 million) into Najib's personal bank account from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit.

Prosecutors have handed nearly 3,000 pages of documents to the defence ahead of the trial, said Najib's lawyer Singh.

The documents include statements from 26 witnesses, some of whom were SRC officials, who will likely be called to testify.

Najib, who has not been asked to testify in his own defence, hopes only for a fair trial, Singh said.

"Our client is of the view that if he gets a fair trial, then the truth will show itself to the public," he said.

Disgraced former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been out in recent weeks campaigning as if for an election, trying to shed the image of a wealthy, elite politician and elicit public sympathy before his corruption trial begins on Tuesday.

Disgraced former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been out in recent weeks campaigning as if for an election, trying to shed the image of a wealthy, elite politician and elicit public sympathy before his corruption trial begins on Tuesday. Najib has pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering, in what is set to be the first of many trials over suspected multibillion-dollar fraud at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The trial starts nine months after Malaysians voted Najib out of office in a general election dominated by public disgust over allegations some $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, and about a quarter of it went into his personal bank accounts. Police found nearly $300 million worth of goods and cash at properties linked to Najib soon after the May 2018 election. But as the trial date nears, Najib - who has maintained his innocence - has sought a radical change of image, painting himself as a victim of a vindictive government led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The 65-year-old son of Malaysia’s second prime minister is also trying to build an image as a folksy voice of working people, especially members of the ethnic Malay majority. Najib, in a viral video last month, crooned a Malay-language version of the 1970s hit 'Kiss and Say Goodbye', surrounded by a chorus of sombre young singers, criticising Mahathir's coalition for failing to live up to election promises. "On May 9, 2018, I was ousted. All this time, I have been fighting with my life for the people I love. But what can I do?" an earnest Najib says of his "saddest day" in the introduction to the song. Najib has also been hitting out online. His jibes against ruling party politicians on Facebook and Twitter have some social media users referring to him as "King of Trolls". A relaxed, casually dressed Najib also paid a visit this month to Langkawi, Mahathir's island constituency, where he pottered around town, visiting markets, eating at hawker stalls and rubbing elbows and posing for selfies with passersby. Mahathir was not impressed. He told a news conference last week Najib seemed to be getting popular on social media because "he provides a lot of stories". Harvinderjit Singh, one of Najib's lawyers, declined to comment on the former premier's public appearances but said the 1MDB trials were unlikely to be affected by the hoopla. "The case is going to be determined by what happens in court, not out of it," he said. 1MDB trial While Najib has been trying to build public support, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has been building a formidable team to prosecute Najib, his wife and a host of other former top officials charged for corruption. All of them have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution has been recruiting top-notch criminal attorneys including former federal court judge Gopal Sri Ram and Sulaiman Abdullah, a lawyer with a background in cases of white-collar crime. The AGC has also recalled several prosecutors from state offices to join the team, two lawyers with knowledge of the matter said. The AGC did not respond to a request for comment. Najib has a defence team of eight lawyers, led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who once represented the government in a sodomy case against former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Najib could face years in prison. He faces 39 criminal charges over losses at 1MDB and other state entities. Seven of those charges will be the subject of Tuesday's trial, relating to transfers totalling 42 million ringgit ($10.30 million) into Najib's personal bank account from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit. Prosecutors have handed nearly 3,000 pages of documents to the defence ahead of the trial, said Najib's lawyer Singh. The documents include statements from 26 witnesses, some of whom were SRC officials, who will likely be called to testify. Najib, who has not been asked to testify in his own defence, hopes only for a fair trial, Singh said. "Our client is of the view that if he gets a fair trial, then the truth will show itself to the public," he said.

1MDB scandal: All about the multi-million dollar fraud and why Malaysia's ex-PM is up for trial 

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Malaysia's ex-PM Najib asks chief justice to step out from appeal panel

Malaysian ex-PM Najib faces July verdict in first 1MDB-linked trial

1MDB scandal: All about the multi-million dollar fraud and why Malaysia's ex-PM is up for trial