WSJ Says Money Deposited In PM Najib’s Personal Accounts Was Actually Over RM4 Billion

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Deposits into personal accounts of Malaysia's prime minister totaled more than $1 billion—hundreds of millions more than previously identified—and global investigators believe much of it originated with a Malaysian state fund, people familiar with the matter say. The investigators' belief contradicts a conclusion reached recently by Malaysia's attorney general.

The attorney general said $681 million deposited to Prime Minister Najib Razak's account—identified by The Wall Street Journal last year—was a legal donation from a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family, and most was returned. The attorney general said there was nothing improper and it was time to stop scrutinizing the deposits, a notion echoed by Mr. Najib.

Investigators in two other countries, while agreeing most of the $681 million ultimately was returned, believe the money originated with a Malaysian state development fund called 1MDB that the PM founded, according to people familiar with the probes.