Update on July 4, 10:56 am: Najib pleaded not guilty after the case was moved to the High Court. 

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged in court today (Wednesday, July 4) at around 9.05am with three counts of criminal breach of trust.

He did not enter any plea at the Sessions Court.

The charges are linked to SRC International, a former subsidiary of state fund 1MDB, and one count of power abuse over the same matter. SRC International was set up in 2011 by Najib himself and was later moved to the finance ministry in 2012.

Najib was arrested on July 3 at his private residence by anti-corruption officers, who then took him to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya where he spent the night in lock-up.

Crowds gathered outside the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex, waiting to catch a glimpse of him.

Some members from his party UMNO held signs that demanded his release. His supporters also started using #FreeNajib on social media.

According to Malay Mail, while his sons and daughter were seen in the gallery, his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was absent.

The newly appointed attorney-general Tommy Thomas is leading the prosecution.

No idea about money that moved through his bank account

MACC's investigation into Najib's involvement focused on how RM42 million (S$14 million) went from SRC International into his personal bank account.

The three charges of criminal breach of trust today concerned three sums of money -- RM27 million (S$9 million), RM4 billion (S$1.3 billion) and RM10 billion (S$3.4 billion) -- received by Najib from SRC International in 2014 as Prime Minister and Finance Minister.

He was previously summoned in May to explain the transfer.

However, in an interview with Reuters, he claimed that he had no "knowledge whatsoever of monies" being transferred into his bank account as he was not the one who was managing it.

He has also maintained that the funds in his bank account were political donations from a Saudi monarch.

Najib faces imprisonment

For criminal breach of trust, Najib faces imprisonment between two to 20 years and a fine. The offence also carries the punishment of whipping, but Najib is exempted from it for he is over 50 years old.

Najib is also charged for power abuse, or using his office or position for gratification. For that he faces at maximum twenty years in prison and a fine. The fine will either be at least five times the value of the gratification, provided that the gratification is pecuniary or can be valued.

Hours after his arrest, he released a pre-recorded video message claiming that not all accusations against him were true.

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Top image via Malay Mail