Former Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak told police on Friday, May 18, he fears for his life.

He has requested to be put under witness protection in the ongoing probe into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad-related (1MDB) scandal.

Lodged police report

Najib lodged a report on Friday at 5pm at the Sentul police headquarters.

In the police report seen by some Malaysian media, Najib said there was a clear threat to his and his family members' lives.

That was the reason he made a formal request to be placed under witness protection.

Local and overseas threats

Najib claimed in the report that the threats are from Malaysia as well as overseas, and are from people directly and indirectly linked to 1MDB funds internationally.

He claimed he learnt of the threats from his sources.

Police report mentioned police action

Najib also said in his report the police officers from Bukit Aman’s commercial crime unit had first turned up at his residence on the night of May 10, a day after the 14th general election.

The police officers were at his residence for 18 hours and seized items belonging to him and his son, which had nothing to do with 1MDB.

Najib further stated that police had raided three premises at Pavillion Tower and seized jewellery, cash and other personal belongings that he claimed were given to him by his friends.

The cash, he stated, was actually donations meant for Barisan Nasional’s election campaign.

Najib also said the investigators who raided the properties linked to him then failed to provide a list of items that were taken.

Advisory role in 1MDB

The former PM stated that he was not involved in the decision-making process in 1MDB and had at all times only played an advisory role.

He said the decisions on 1MDB deals were made by the board of directors and the management.

The police report also recorded Najib's claim that the RM2.6 billion he received in his personal account was merely a donation from the Saudi royal family.

What might Najib be charged with

In the last few days, police raids have been carried out at the Prime Minister’s Office in Perdana Putra, as well as private properties linked to the Pekan MP.

This included the Taman Duta mansion where he and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, are currently living, as well as two luxury condominium units at Block A and B of the Pavillion Residences in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001.

For an offence under Section 4(1) of the AMLATFA, those convicted can be jailed up to 15 years and fined not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity or instrumentalities at the time the offence was committed or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Najib and Rosmah have been blacklisted from leaving the country by the Immigration Department, but are free to travel domestically.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad reopened investigations into the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal after he reclaimed the prime minister seat vacated 15 years ago, following his coalition's convincing win in the May 9 general election.

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