The former prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, has been placed under quarantine after traveling to the heavily infected state of Sabah.
As per standard procedures, Najib will stay under a two-week quarantine before resuming trial on October 19, according to court proceedings, following negative test results for the virus.
After the trial resumes, Najib faces 25 money laundering and corruption charges including accusations that he received over 2 billion ringgit ($500 million) in bribes linked to bonds issued by 1MDB. He also plans to appeal a previous sentence of 12 years imprisonment.
Sabah Safety
At 3.5 million, the state of Sabah represents a little over 10 percent of Malaysia’s overall population of nearly 32 million. Despite this, the northern region of Borneo island saw a spike in early September and is now responsible for most of the new infection cases which have totaled over 2,500.
Najib returns to Kuala Lumpur from Sabah where he had just won the state elections in late September and is seeking to form a new government in an alliance with the ruling coalition.
