Malaysia's High Court has ordered imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to enter a defense in his second corruption trial over the multibillion-dollar looting of the 1MDB state investment fund.

As it stands, Najib is facing 21 charges of money laundering and four charges of abuse of power as he reportedly channelled RM 2.3 billion (S$694 million) from government-run strategic development company 1MDB, which he had co-founded in 2009, into his bank accounts.

Najib, who was voted out in 2018 after nine years in power, issued a rare apology last week for his role in mishandling the 1MDB scandal. Najib maintains he had no knowledge of any illegal transfers from the state fund, saying he was misled by others and ...