- Najib Razak has been invited to meet the President on September 12
- Najib and his associates have been accused of stealing billions from state investment fund 1MDB
- Last year the State Department seized assets worth $1.5billion from the Prime Minister
- They are set to discuss the fight against terrorism and trade and investment
The White House has announced that a world leader at the heart of a $1.5billion corruption scandal has been invited to Washington to meet President Donald Trump.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is set to meet the president on September 12, it has been announced.
Relations between the US and Razak’s administration have been strained since the Malaysian leader was implicated in the scandal two years ago, amid allegations he and his associates stole money from state investment fund 1MDB.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been accused of involvement in a corruption scandal worth billions of dollars
The State Department last year seized assets worth $1.5billion which it said were illegally taken from the fund – which is supposed to promote economic and development projects.
Najib has denied any wrongdoing.
A White House statement says the two leaders will discuss ways to bolster ties and expand regional cooperation. The visit marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry said Thursday that national security, the global fight against terrorism and trade and investment are on the agenda of talks between the leaders.
The 1MDB case is the largest single action the Justice Department has taken under its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which seeks to recover foreign bribery proceeds and embezzled funds.
He has been invited to the White House to meet President Trump, and the two leaders are set to discuss the fight against terrorism and trade links
Several other countries including Singapore and Switzerland are conducting investigations.
Najib denied taking money from 1MDB after it was reported that investigators traced nearly $700 million to his bank accounts.
Authorities cleared him of any wrongdoing, saying the money was a donation from Saudi Arabia.