Malaysia's Former Prime Minister Najib Razak will have to defend himself against allegations of abuse of power and money laundering in the misappropriation of RM42 million ($13.8 million) from former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) subsidiary SRC International.

Najib will have to take the stand after his lawyers failed to obtain an acquittal for the former chief of the Barisan Nasional coalition. He is facing one count of abuse of power, three counts of money laundering and three counts of criminal breach of trust.

Delivering his decision on Monday, High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali said the former prime minister will have to enter his defence after the prosecution established a prima facie case.

The judge added that the recorded evidence showed that Najib was present at two meetings on the provision of government guarantees of 4 billion Malaysian ringgit for the benefit of SRC International of the Malaysian Pension Fund.

The court offered the former Malaysian prime minister options he could follow to defend himself. Najib chose to give evidence under oath from the witness stand and be subjected to cross-examination by the prosecution.

If convicted, Najib could face hefty fines and jail terms ranging from 15 to 20 years on each charge.

Najib is facing four charges of abusing his position to corruptly obtain RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering related to the money. (QNA)