Najib, who arrived at 8.20am wearing a blue suit and red tie, was accompanied by a police escort.

He is expected to face more than 10 counts of committing criminal breach of trust by a public servant or agent linked to former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International under Section 409 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, he could face a prison term of not less than two years and not more than 20 years. He is also liable to be fined.

Najib, 64, had been called in for questioning twice by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to SRC International.

He was arrested by MACC at his home yesterday as part of the government’s probe into state investment arm 1MDB.

He is the first of six former prime ministers to face criminal charges.

The RM42 million channelled into his bank account is only a fraction of the total amount allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB, with the US Department of Justice claiming over US$4.5 billion was siphoned from the fund.

The cover-up: Officials reveal how much 1MDB probe was obstructed