Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak speaks to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex September 20, 2018. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Despite being slapped with a whopping 25 money-laundering and corruption charges today, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he is looking forward to the trial.

The Pekan MP said he will finally have the chance to prove his innocence in court over the billions deposited into his personal bank account that had cast a shadow throughout his near 10-year tenure as prime minister.

“They have tried to denigrate, degrade and tarnish me with full force,” he told reporters after posting bail.

“These charges will allow me to clear my name, that I am not a thief and let us hope that this trial will end in the truth and quash once and for all the RM2.6 billion issue,” he said, referring to the amount when the allegations against him had surfaced.

Najib was slapped with 21 counts of money laundering and four counts of power abuse earlier this evening in relation to the RM2.3 billion dubiously traced to his personal accounts.

He denied all charges.

At the news conference, Najib claimed the charges were part of a conspiracy by the Pakatan Harapan administration to tarnish his image.

Claiming that he is innocent, he cited the decision to return “a large sum” from the RM2.3 billion as proof of his good intentions.

“If you look at the 21 charges, it seems shocking. But if you know the real facts and understand the calculation, we can conclude that I had returned a large sum shortly after the 13th general election,” he said.

The former prime minister claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to 21 counts of money laundering and a separate four counts of power abuse; Najib maintains the sum was a donation from an Arab royal in 2013.

The charges were read out to him earlier this afternoon before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.

This fresh criminal case is on top of Najib’s other existing charges over a sum of RM42 million allegedly received from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a 1MDB subsidiary.

Najib had always maintained that the money was a donation from Saudi royals meant for Umno. Around RM2.1 billion was returned, he has said.

The defence counsel is likely to use Najib’s claim that he had returned most of the money as a key evidence for the trial.

Najib also suggested bias in the prosecution, noting that the charges against him were brought by an attorney general who withdrew all charges against PH leaders accused of corruption.

“I don’t want to accuse anyone,” he said, when asked if he felt he was victimised.

“It’s my luck that I am dealing with this proceeding when others had their charges dropped completely.”

The Sessions Court has allowed Najib to pay his RM3.5 million bail in instalments, starting with RM1 million tomorrow.

The instalments — as requested by Najib’s defence team — have to be fully paid up by September 28.

At the end of the news conference, Najib said he is confident that a fair trial will see him triumph against all allegations levelled against him.

“God willing and if all goes well with the trial, the truth shall be revealed,” he said.