Malaysia's prime minister Najib Razak was today cleared of corruption as the country’s top prosecutor ruled that nearly £500million he received in his bank account was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family.
The announcement by Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali followed months of uncertainty for Mr Najib, who has been fighting intense pressure to resign over the financial scandal in his biggest political crisis since he took power in 2009.
But Mr Apandi did not say why the Saudi royals made the donation or give details on what the money was to have been used for.
The attorney general said investigations by the country’s anti-corruption agency showed that no criminal offence was committed as $681 million transferred into Najib’s accounts between March and April 2013 was “given without any consideration” by the Saudi royal family as a personal donation.
He said Najib returned $620 million to the Saudi royal family in August 2013. He did not say what happened to the remaining $61 million.
“I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly,” Mr Apandi said.
Mr Najib has yet to comment but had previously denied wrongdoing.
The political scandal partly contributed to the Malaysian currency plunging to a 17-year low last August.
