Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak took the stand to defend his conduct in the 1MDB scandal Tuesday, as the first of several trials linked to the multi-billion-dollar fraud entered a crucial stage.

Jho Low, still at-large and travelling around freely with multiple passports， is a perfect symptom of a bigger underlying problem which needs to be addressed at its core.

Najib must envy Jho Low's freedom, and will use every opportunity to postpone his conviction.

"Jho Low was offered asylum in August 2019 by a country that acts in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European Convention on Human Rights."

Malaysia's ex-prime minister Najib Razak played a pivotal role in plundering state fund 1MDB and hundreds of millions of dollars were illicitly channelled to his bank account, a prosecutor said Wednesday at the opening of his biggest graft trial.

Najib, who is facing seven charges of misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC funds, will know his fate on Nov 11.

The Malaysian producer of Hollywood film "The Wolf of Wall Street" and stepson of the country's disgraced ex-leader was Friday charged with illegally receiving almost $250 million from state fund 1MDB.

The government and police have reportedly filed a civil forfeiture suit against Najib and his wife Rosmah in relation to RM711 million worth of valuables.

Millions of dollars forfeited by the company behind the Leonardo DiCaprio film "Wolf of Wall Street" have been sent to a Malaysian account set up to recover money looted in a massive state fraud, officials said Tuesday.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas says the prosecution will prove that Najib used his position as PM and finance minister to obtain for himself a gratification of RM42 million.