The opposition leaders who filed a suit against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak are contending that Najib, as chairperson of 1MDB board of advisers, caused the state-owned fund to issue bonds and raise funds for the purchase of power plants at an inflated price.

The plaintiffs, former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, former PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua, further alleged that the issuance of the bonds is favourable to United Arab Emirates-based Aabar Investments PJS and International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).

“This is to induce Aabar and IPIC to cause US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) to be paid into Najib’s personal accounts just prior to the 2013 general election. Hence, the said monies, or part thereof, were used by Najib for GE13,” they said in their statement of claim.